Aaron Rodgers Has Reportedly Coveted Vikings Contract amid Steelers, NFL Rumors

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers' drawn-out free-agency decision reportedly may be due to his desire to sign with a specific team.

Speaking Friday on her Scoop City podcast, Dianna Russini of The Athletic said those she has spoken to believe Rodgers' preference is to sign with the Minnesota Vikings.

Rodgers built a Hall of Fame résumé during his 18 seasons with the Green Bay Packers, earning 10 Pro Bowl nods, four first-team All-Pro selections, four NFL MVP Awards, one Super Bowl win and one Super Bowl MVP Award.

The Packers traded Rodgers to the New York Jets prior to the 2023 season, but a torn Achilles cost him the entire campaign.

Rodgers bounced back to start all 17 games for the Jets last season, and while he managed to complete 63.0 percent of his passes for 3,897 yards, 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, he looked to be a shell of his former self at 41 years of age, and the Jets went just 5-12.

The Jets released Rodgers this offseason, making him one of the top quarterbacks available on the open market.

With Sam Darnold, Justin Fields, Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston having signed with new teams, there is now no question that Rodgers is the top quarterback available.

He had been linked to the New York Giants, but they took themselves out of the running by signing Wilson and Winston, which suggests the Pittsburgh Steelers and Vikings could be the only options left for Rodgers.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter (h/t ESPN's Brooke Pryor), Rodgers was at the Steelers' facility for six hours last week. The two sides agreed to stay in touch, and it was described as a positive meeting, but it hasn't led to a contract yet.

Rodgers has not had a similar meeting with the Vikings, and it is unclear if Minnesota is even interested.

Per ESPN's Kevin Seifert, Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said this week that "the outcome we want" at quarterback is for 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy to be the starter in 2025.

However, Adofo-Mensah refused to completely rule out the possibility of signing Rodgers, saying:

"For me to sit here and say that anything's 100 percent forever, that's just not the job. We're responding to scenarios and different information as it comes. So obviously things can change, but right now we're really happy with our [quarterback] room and we're going to look to upgrade it in different ways."

The Vikings went 14-3 last season with Darnold as their quarterback, and they likely present Rodgers with the best opportunity to win due to the talent they boast on both sides of the ball.

Rodgers would likely have to compete with McCarthy for the starting job, though, and it is unclear if he would be willing to do that.

As for the Steelers, they lost both Wilson and Fields in free agency, and their only established quarterback is Mason Rudolph.

Rodgers would almost certainly be their starter in 2025, and he would have some strong offensive weapons to work with in wide receivers DK Metcalf and George Pickens, tight end Pat Freiermuth and running back Jaylen Warren.

The Steelers were a playoff team last season as well, which suggests the potential is there for them to make some noise next season.

If the Vikings make a firm decision to move forward with McCarthy at quarterback, there does not appear to be any reasonable scenario available to Rodgers other than signing in Pittsburgh.