How Vikings and head coach Kevin O'Connell really feel about signing Aaron Rodgers
By JAKE FENNER
Aaron Rodgers is still in limbo. It appears to be a limbo of his own choosing as he awaits a decision from the Minnesota Vikings on his potential future home.
Rodgers, who is set to be official cut from the New York Jets after June 1, is looking for his next team for the 2025 season.
There's interest from the Minnesota Vikings after their starting quarterback from last season, Sam Darnold, signed with the Seattle Seahawks.
With the Vikings' options at backup quarterback dwindling, the choice now falls on the head of coach Kevin O'Connell, as reported by The Athletic.
But reports from the outlet indicate that the entire leadership staff of the team is very high on Rodgers' abilities despite being 41-years-old. However, they're unsure of their need for a starter like Rodgers with JJ McCarthy already in the organization.
'The general assessment of Rodgers by Minnesota’s talent evaluators and coaches is that he remains a highly skilled passer who can still perform at a high level from the pocket, given the right supporting cast,' read the report from the outlet.
While the Minnesota Vikings have high opinions of Aaron Rodgers, their need for him is unclear
The Athletic says that team leaders are deferring to the decision of coach Kevin O'Connell
It's likely that the decision comes down to the Vikings' faith in 2024 draftee JJ McCarthy
'Importantly, all parties believe that O’Connell is the decision-maker best equipped to know and understand what McCarthy’s mindset is, and how the young quarterback might react to Rodgers’ presence.
'O’Connell is also the person whose day-to-day reality would be most affected by such a move.'
While owners Zygi and Mark Wilf and general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah will have a say on the matter, the outlet is reporting that they will 'defer' to O'Connell on the matter.
It's likely the decision on Rodgers comes down to how confident the coaching staff is on McCarthy.
The Vikings picked McCarthy tenth overall in the 2024 NFL Draft out of Michigan.
He was projected to be the team's starter last season, but suffered a season-ending injury in the preseason. With Darnold at the helm, the Vikings shocked the NFL by still making the playoffs.
If the Vikings choose to pass on Rodgers, he could likely sign with either the Pittsburgh Steelers or the New York Giants.
Rodgers had a tough time in New York with the Jets. He played only four offensive snaps in the 2023 season, then followed that up by winning just five games in the 2024 season.
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