The Aaron Rodgers Rumors Just Got Daggered
The Minnesota Vikings have found themselves in countless reports suggesting that Aaron Rodgers, the future Hall of Famer and an all-time great, could be headed toward the Twin Cities. It took a few days, but we finally have the verdict.
The Aaron Rodgers Rumors Just Got Daggered
Tom Pelissero, one of the top guys in the NFL’s reporting business, wrote on social media: “The Vikings have rejected multiple trade calls on J.J. McCarthy, telling other teams they’re moving forward with him as their quarterback, sources say. The team plans to add a veteran. But they’re not pursuing Aaron Rodgers at this time. McCarthy now enters the offseason as QB1.”
That’s about as clear as a report can get without the general manager or head coach actually announcing it on the podium.
Rodgers is 41 years old, and the Vikings want to go with their 22-year-old instead, handing last year’s tenth-overall pick, J.J. McCarthy, the keys to Kevin O’Connell’s offense. The addition of a veteran quarterback has been the expectation for a while, and although the number of available QBs has been dwindling, there are still more than enough options.
Just to name a few, Joe Flacco, Drew Lock, Carson Wentz, Jameis Winston, and Ryan Tannehill. For Vikings fans, Case Keenum and Teddy Bridgewater are intriguing, but perhaps more from a sentimental standpoint than actual football reasons.
Pelissero added on NFL Network, “For Aaron Rodgers, his immediate options now center around the Steelers and the Giants. For the Vikings, Aaron Rodgers and Kevin O’Connell have a relationship that goes back 15 years. There’s a ton of mutual respect there. Quarterbacks want to play in Minnesota, and when a four-time NFL MVP says, ‘Hey, I want to come there,’ you’d be negligent to not at least have a conversation. There was a lot of dialogue, back and forth, but I’m told Rodgers is now aware Minnesota is going in another direction.”
Rodgers was still a serviceable starter with the Jets last year, but at the age of 41, he is no longer the MVP-caliber quarterback the Vikings surely would’ve welcomed. Instead, it will be McCarthy’s team.
Pelissero also had a little nugget about him.
“The Vikings have full confidence in J.J. McCarthy as their quarterback. This is not just about 2025; it’s about 2026, 2027, making sure that they are developing him into the franchise quarterback they believe he can be. J.J. McCarthy’s knee, in which he had surgery for a torn meniscus last year, I am told, is not an issue. He has put weight back on; he’s weighing upwards of 200 pounds. He’s regularly working out at the facility, and he looks good.”
The knee isn’t a concern and shockingly, a young professional athlete doesn’t have problems putting on weight.
The Rodgers era in Minnesota ended rather quickly, and the team wants to go forward with the highest-drafted passer in franchise history. Veteran Rodgers can still join a solid Steelers team to play meaningful football in January.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Pro Football Reference helped with this article.
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Janik Eckardt is a football fan who likes numbers and stats. The Vikings became his favorite team despite their quarterback at the time, Christian Ponder. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and prefers Classic rock over other genres. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt