This NFL offseason is going to be another game of musical chairs at quarterback. At least a quarter of the league is heading into this summer with uncertainty under center. Speaking of uncertainty, there are so many questions to answer about Aaron Rodgers. Will the future Hall of Famer keep playing? And if he does, where will he land? Let’s explore the possibilities.
It’s important to frame Rodgers’ remaining skill level and his likely priorities. For a 42-year-old, he could still spin it; the four-time MVP completed 65.7% of his passes while throwing 24 touchdowns to seven interceptions. However, his inability to push the ball downfield and unwillingness to take risks landed him 22nd out of 37 quarterbacks in EPA per play, minimum 250 plays. At best, any team getting him is getting a passable game manager who isn’t raising the ceiling of their offense. Despite that, Rodgers is unlikely to sign with any team that has little chance of making the playoffs, considerably narrowing his potential landing spots.
Now, let’s get into the suitors.
Here are the teams that, by my measure, will be actively looking for a quarterback this offseason: the Dolphins, Jets, Steelers, Browns, Raiders, Cardinals, Falcons, and Vikings. It’s widely assumed that Rodgers will only play for teams with a good shot at the playoffs. So that rules out the Dolphins, Jets, Browns, Raiders, and Cardinals. Let’s evaluate the remaining contenders.
Pittsburgh Steelers
The most obvious solution is Rodgers going back for another year in Pittsburgh. After narrowly capturing the AFC North title, the Steelers stood little chance against the Houston Texans. That led to Mike Tomlin’s ouster after two decades in Pittsburgh and leaves Pittsburgh in uncharted waters. That seemingly spelled an end to Rodgers’ tenure as well. Now that former Packers coach Mike McCarthy is the top man for the Steelers, that calculus may have changed.
This is not a full rebuild; it’s a continuation. Rodgers continues to speak highly of McCarthy and Steelers GM Omar Khan. He formed a good rapport with DK Metcalf last season, and they’d be in a position to have a solid offense once again. This is a team that could more or less run it back and have a solid shot at winning the AFC North once again; they may not have a ton of upside, but they provide the smoothest fit for Rodgers’ assumed needs.
Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons need to get real about their quarterback situation. There’s an old saying that if you have two quarterbacks, then you have none. For the last two years, that has been proven true for Atlanta. They drafted Michael Penix Jr. with the 8th overall pick in the 2024 draft while also signing Kirk Cousins to a big-money four-year deal. Neither of those signal callers have been the answer; Cousins is heading for a release or a trade, and Penix Jr. is rehabbing the third torn ACL of his college/pro career. Now they’ll need to move in a new direction.
Atlanta has a brand-new brain trust. Kevin Stefanski will run the sidelines after a relatively successful run with the Cleveland Browns, while Matt Ryan and Ian Cunningham manage the football decisions. It’s wholly possible that they will not feel tied to Penix Jr., who will be 26 years old and has not shown himself to be an NFL-level quarterback thus far. With no first-round pick to their name in a weak QB class, it is unlikely that any starting-level QB is coming their way via the draft. So a bridge quarterback makes a lot of sense here.
The Falcons had their struggles last year, but still finished tied for the best record in the NFC South. It’s an awfully winnable division if they have competent QB play. Rodgers would have a top receiver in Drake London, a good offensive line, and perhaps the best running back in the league to lean on. Bijan Robinson would surely benefit from having competent quarterback play.
Another year of development and new management would do wonders for this young, talented defense. On paper, a decent season from Rodgers could get them to double-digit wins and vault them to the top of the division. It’s an underrated fit.
Minnesota Vikings
This would be the funniest of them all. After 18 years of showing down with the Vikings as a Packer, going back to the NFC North for perhaps his final season would be something to behold. But it does make a lot of sense.
Last season was a testament to Minnesota’s floor-raising ability. JJ McCarthy was a disaster in his first season as a starter, ceding snaps to Carson Wentz and Max Brosmer. Despite these struggles, the Vikings finished the season 9-8 and were so close to capturing the final Wild Card spot. A top-10 defense and a great head coach, Kevin O’Connell, minimized the damage the quarterback situation inflicted. Much more so than the Falcons, the Vikings are just a competent quarterback away from being back in the race.
They are going to retain much of that great defense next season. Some veteran cuts may be made in the front seven, but they have depth to lean on. Minnesota boasts a great offensive line and arguably the best wide receiver in the league in Justin Jefferson. Jordan Addison and TJ Hockenson have shown juice as complementary receiving options. Rodgers can connect the pieces here and bring this offense back towards average. Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network is already reporting that Minnesota is seeking a veteran QB on a one-year deal.
Money is the main issue here. Minnesota is dead last in cap space, currently $44 million over the line. They’re already making some inroads with cap cuts like Javon Hargrave and Aaron Jones, and will cut more bloat as the offseason goes on. Rodgers commanded a hair over $14 million last year for the Steelers, and though he likely will ask for less, his price tag will be around $10 million. However, the alternative is to go into the season with McCarthy once again, and it’s unlikely that new management will hand him the starting spot uncontested.
The sight of Rodgers in a Vikings jersey would be jarring, to say the least. But all the boxes would be checked for both sides. Don’t be surprised if his name comes up in their QB search.
