Aaron Rodgers' free agency saga begins as multiple teams consider making a run at the veteran quarterback
The New York Jets won't officially cut Aaron Rodgers before Wednesday, because the team intends to use the post-June 1st designation on the veteran quarterback. But the release has already been announced, so Rodgers is free to talk to other teams. And in his first free agency ever, it seems like Rodgers has generated more […]
The New York Jets won't officially cut Aaron Rodgers before Wednesday, because the team intends to use the post-June 1st designation on the veteran quarterback. But the release has already been announced, so Rodgers is free to talk to other teams. And in his first free agency ever, it seems like Rodgers has generated more interest around the league than one could expect after his unsuccessful tenure on the Jets.
At least four teams have been mentioned as viable destinations for Rodgers, and that's after the Los Angeles Rams were ruled out as soon as they agreed to keep Matthew Stafford.
Pittsburgh Steelers
This is the landing spot that has made the most sense from the get go. It's a well-managed organization in general, head coach Mike Tomlin is used to handling stars, and the Steelers look to be comfortable with a short-term answer at quarterback.
The team is still considering re-signing Russell Wilson or Justin Fields, but Rodgers has emerged as a possibility as well.
According to ESPN's NFL insider Adam Schefter, "Rodgers and the Steelers are expected to talk and explore a union. The idea of Rodgers playing for Mike Tomlin is in play."
Aaron Rodgers’ Super Bowl championship after the 2010 season came exactly against the Steelers.
New York Giants
The Giants seem to be the most likely destination at the moment. Rodgers and Russell Wilson are the team's veteran options in a quarterback plan that involves three parts.
The first one is the smaller and has been done, which was tendering exclusive-rights free agent Tommy DeVito. The second is getting a veteran to start right away, and that's where Rodgers and Wilson fit. And the third is to get a rookie inside the top 100 of the draft to develop.
The Giants might not be the ideal landing spot for Aaron, but they do have some intriguing pieces, and decent quarterback play might elevate it all after a rough season with Daniel Jones, DeVito, and Drew Lock.
Head coach Brian Daboll and offensive coordinator Mike Kafka have a combination of elite left tackle (Andrew Thomas) and rising star wide receiver (Malik Nabers) that is hard to replicate.
Minnesota Vikings
This is certainly the craziest outcome, because Aaron Rodgers would follow Brett Favre's path and face the Green Bay Packers twice a year. But what seemed like just a crazy thought has gotten some legs after Geno Smith's trade from the Seattle Seahawks to the Las Vegas Raiders generated a domino effect.
Without Geno, the Seahawks are considering Sam Darnold, taking him away from the Vikings' financial reality. And if the Vikings aren't able to keep Daniel Jones (the Indianapolis Colts also want him), Rodgers could be in play to be a veteran presence while last year's first-round pick J.J. McCarthy recovers from a knee injury.
Seattle Seahawks
While Sam Darnold is widely perceived as a Plan A in Seattle, Rodgers has also been mentioned as a possibility there. Sure, it's just a short-term solution, which would feel weird after they moved on from Geno.
But these are different realities. While Smith wanted a long-term extension, the Seahawks didn't want to commit for more than a year or two. And that's what Rodgers can offer. If Seattle can get Rodgers and a developmental quarterback behind him, it can sell to their fans a viable path to be competitive now and in the future.
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