Aaron Rodgers has taken much longer than expected to sign with a new team in free agency, and the reason for that has become obvious in recent days.
Rodgers wants to play for the Minnesota Vikings, and the level of interest may not be mutual.
At the start of free agency on Monday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Rodgers had outstanding offers to become the new starting quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers or New York Jets. Neither of those teams have signed a veteran quarterback as Rodgers continues to weigh his options.
One theory on why Rodgers has been so deliberate with his decision is that the 41-year-old wants the Vikings to get involved in the bidding. It may not be a bidding war that Rodgers is after, however.
According to a report on Saturday from Michael Silver, Dianna Russini and Alec Lewis of The Athletic, Rodgers is “hoping to sign with the Vikings.” Minnesota is strongly considering the idea, but head coach Kevin O’Connell has not yet decided if he wants to bring in the former MVP.
The appeal for Rodgers is obvious. The Vikings are coming off a 14-3 season, and O’Connell is one of the best offensive minds in the NFL. The last two starting quarterbacks who played under the coach went on to sign massive contracts with other teams. Even though he is well past his prime, Rodgers likely feels confident he can succeed under O’Connell.
The Vikings let Sam Darnold walk in free agency, indicating they are ready to turn their team over to J.J. McCarthy sooner rather than later. McCarthy, the No. 10 overall pick in last year’s draft, is working his way back from a torn meniscus he suffered before his rookie season began.
Rodgers feels he could hold McCarthy off long enough in Minnesota. He may even believe he can take the team further into the postseason than Darnold did last year when the Vikings had a disappointing loss to the Los Angeles Rams in the opening round.
Some have said Rodgers is weighing retirement, but that seems unlikely. He may simply have one team at the top of his wish list.
