With the 2024 NFL season in the rearview mirror, attention has predictably turned to the offseason. The NFL Draft is just over two months away, but before we get that far, there is an awful lot to be ironed out in free agency.
One player who could be available is Aaron Rodgers, and NFL analyst Mina Kimes spoke on his potential landing spots.
Where Could Aaron Rodgers Play in 2025?
It feels like a lifetime ago that Aaron Rodgers was giving NFL defenses nightmares with the Green Bay Packers. The former G.B. legend and future Hall of Famer has grabbed more headlines for his abrasive personality in recent years.
Having lasted just four snaps for the New York Jets in 2023 before suffering an Achilles tear, Rodgers struggled in 2024 as his relationship with the organization wilted.
If the Jets could go back in time, it would be interesting to see if they would still have sided with their controversial quarterback over then-head coach, Robert Saleh, who was fired midseason in 2024. While Saleh hadn’t produced a winning team at that point, his defense was among the best in the NFL, and it was Rodgers’ job to lead the offense.
With arguably one of the best supporting casts in the NFL, Rodgers failed to live up to the hype that surrounded his trade to New York. Two years on from that very trade, it looks set to be a back-door exit for Rodgers.
His outspokenness was once a minor inconvenience for coaches, one that was easy to overlook given his phenomenal talent. But with his deteriorating performances and durability questions, the four-time NFL MVP does not seem to be the attraction he once was.
Rodgers still has one year left on his contract, but the Jets could opt to release him if they are unable to find a trade partner to take on Rodgers and some of his deal. He is currently not set to hit free agency until 2026.
Tennessee ‘Makes the Most Sense’ for Rodgers, Says Mina Kimes
While Rodgers’ stock has declined dramatically since his move to the Big Apple, NFL analyst Kimes still sees hope for a resurrection.
It comes in the form of the Tennessee Titans, who not only own the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft but need a quarterback. After striking out with Will Levis, perhaps they might prefer to go with experience. Listing the potential landing spots for Rodgers, Kimes had some positive things to say about a potential move to the Titans.
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“[Las Vegas Raiders OC] Chip Kelly, I don’t see it happening. Kevin Stefanski, after trying to run an offense that’s tailored to his quarterback, he is not going in that direction again,” Kimes said. “But Brian Callahan, coming from Cincinnati, that was an offense that was very tailored to what Joe Burrow likes to do, which is sit in the [shot]gun and pick defenses apart.”
What would be a better fit for Aaron Rodgers: Titans or Steelers?@minakimes and @mspears96 on some potential landing spots for the veteran QB✍️ pic.twitter.com/8QD7WGNi2X
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) February 10, 2025
“… They would have to continue addressing that [the offensive line], because of Rodgers being pressure-sensitive at this point in his career, but I keep going back to the Titans as the team that makes the most sense for him, purely from a football perspective.”
With the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Tennessee has its pick of prospects, but with the volatility of rookie quarterbacks over the years, the Titans could save themselves a big decision by opting for Rodgers.
What does PFSN Say About Rodgers’ Next Landing Spot?
In PFSN’s Bold 2025 Offseason Predictions, their Stats and Inisghts Team makes a prediction that the Las Vegas Raiders would be Rodgers’ next home.
The Raiders did not hire Pete Carroll for a long rebuild. At 73 years old, Carroll is unlikely to be there for the long haul, which means the Raiders need to take a step to challenge sooner rather than later.
There aren’t many free agent options that would transform a team into an instant challenger. Carroll may think he can do it with Russell Wilson, but that would be a risk.
Rodgers, though, could be available for a trade and potentially make Vegas a challenger. Of course, that’s a risk, given what we saw from him last season. He ranked lower in PFN’s Quarterback+ than Wilson last season, so by no means is it a slam-dunk.
Rodgers is a relatively cheap experiment in 2025. He would only cost $9.5 million against the cap and $37.5 million in cash for the year. With more than $90 million in cap space, the Raiders can then also make moves to enhance Rodgers’ chances of succeeding. Davante Adams reunion, anyone?
The problem is that Rodgers’ recent QB+ numbers are concerning. In 2022, he was graded as a D+ (68.0), and in 2024 he was a C- (72.1). Yet, we’ve seen him bounce back in the past, and in the right situation, there is that potential.
Part owner of the Raiders, Tom Brady won a Super Bowl at 44 years old. If anyone would know how to help get the best out of Rodgers at 41, it would be Brady.
Picking sixth in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Raiders are unlikely to see either Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders fall to them. A trade-up to get either would be expensive, and there’s no guarantee it would be any more successful than a gamble on Rodgers.
Aidan O’Connell is under contract for 2025, and while he ended the season with a better QB+ than Rodgers, it was by 1.6 points and one spot in the rankings. Despite the recent struggles, Rodgers’ ceiling is higher.
