Schefter: Aaron Rodgers Wants to Join Vikings; QB Has 'Resisted' Steelers and Giants

The Minnesota Vikings are believed to be the preferred choice for free-agent quarterback Aaron Rodgers, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Schefter reported Tuesday on his podcast that "we can only surmise" about Rodgers' mindset, but the general impression around the NFL is the four-time MVP "would like to sign with the Minnesota Vikings." To that end, he has "balked" at interest from the Pittsburgh Steelers and "resisted their overtures."

The Athletic's Michael Silver, Dianna Russini and Alec Lewis painted a similar picture over the weekend. When it comes to Pittsburgh and New York, they reported Rodgers "has essentially put both teams on hold while he waits for clarity regarding the Vikings' situation."

And rather than signing with the Steelers or Giants, he could walk away from the NFL altogether if Minnesota gives him a firm no, per The Athletic.

Any misgivings the Vikings have about Rodgers would be understandable.

His two years with the New York Jets exemplified the circus that can follow the 41-year-old, and he simply isn't the same player he was toward the end of his Green Bay Packers run. His 90.5 QB rating was his lowest as a starter and he posted his second-worst QBR (48.0).

Another consistent theme across the reports from Schefter and The Athletic is that the Vikings still believe in 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy.

Declining to use the franchise tag on Sam Darnold and trading him to the Seattle Seahawks would make less sense if Minnesota turned around and signed someone with Rodgers' pedigree. That would needlessly complicate the transition to McCarthy.

Schefter said Tuesday he doesn't think the Vikings are a "viable option" for Rodgers right now, so this all could come to nothing. But a deal with Minnesota is at least a possibility until the team says otherwise.