As the Minnesota Vikings gear up for their offseason practices, they’ve made the decision to step away from talks with free agent quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Instead, they’re placing their trust in second-year player J.J. McCarthy to lead the quarterback lineup, according to sources who spoke to ESPN.
The Vikings spent considerable time weighing their quarterback options after receiving word that Rodgers was interested in joining their roster. This internal debate took on greater urgency when 2024 starter Sam Darnold made the move to the Seattle Seahawks and free agent Daniel Jones turned down their offer, choosing to sign with the Indianapolis Colts instead — the Vikings had envisioned Jones playing a mentorship role for McCarthy.
Despite receiving trade inquiries about McCarthy, Minnesota remains firm in keeping him, as confirmed by a source in alignment with an earlier report from NFL Network.
McCarthy is back on his feet after undergoing surgery last August to fix a torn meniscus in his right knee. Notably, he’s the first quarterback in the modern draft era to be picked in the first round and miss his entire rookie season due to injury. Adding Rodgers could have brought a seasoned future Hall of Famer into the mix, potentially pushing McCarthy’s start further into 2026, despite the team’s impressive 14-win season last year.
However, the Vikings are moving forward with plans to give McCarthy the first-team snaps during OTAs and minicamp. Sources say that if McCarthy faces a setback or seems to need more time to hone his skills, they might revisit the option of bringing Rodgers onboard — providing he’s still available before the training camp kicks off.
Though the door for Rodgers isn’t completely closed, insiders have described his potential signing as unlikely. It has long been suggested that coach Kevin O’Connell is committed to the vision for McCarthy, whom he regards as the team’s future centerpiece quarterback.
This offseason, the Vikings’ actions clearly point towards a commitment to McCarthy, like the decision to let Darnold depart without the franchise tag. They’ve also been proactive in investing over $300 million during the free agent period, prioritizing building a solid team around McCarthy’s budget-friendly rookie contract.
The hunt for a seasoned backup to McCarthy continues, given that several candidates have found homes elsewhere during the time the Vikings explored the Rodgers opportunity. Brett Rypien is currently the only other quarterback on their roster. Potential additions could include veterans like Joe Flacco or Carson Wentz, and there’s a chance that former Vikings starter Kirk Cousins, now with the Atlanta Falcons, might come into the picture as a possibility later in the offseason.
