The three teams still in the running for Aaron Rodgers are reportedly the Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants, and Pittsburgh Steelers. Each team has its own reasons for pursuing him, but Rodgers also has the option to retire if he chooses. While he appears to favor joining the Vikings, it remains uncertain whether Minnesota is actually interested in signing him.
FOX Sports’ Ralph Vacchiano recently urged the Vikings to bring in Rodgers, arguing that they are just one piece away from competing for a Super Bowl. He believes that while turning to an inexperienced rookie could benefit the team’s future, it might also close their current championship window.
“Once they let Sam Darnold go, it seemed like an obvious move to me,” Vacchiano wrote. “They won 14 games last season, and there’s a strong case to be made that they could have been legitimate Super Bowl contenders if their quarterback and offense hadn’t collapsed in their regular-season finale against Detroit and their lone playoff game versus the Rams.
“In other words, they’re one of the top teams in the NFC, and they’re retaining most of their key players. You don’t hand over a team like that to an unproven rookie (J.J. McCarthy) when a future Hall of Famer is available. When you have a shot at a championship, you take it.”
While Vacchiano presents a compelling argument, the Vikings reportedly have a great deal of confidence in J.J. McCarthy. If they believe the drop-off between Rodgers and McCarthy wouldn’t be significant, then signing Rodgers wouldn’t make much sense.
Additionally, keeping McCarthy on the bench for another year could hinder his development. If the Vikings feel he’s ready to step in and lead the team, there’s little reason to bring in Rodgers.