The Minnesota Vikings’ quarterback room will look vastly different in 2025. Sam Darnold, Daniel Jones, and Nick Mullens have all agreed to terms with new teams, and J.J. McCarthy is coming off a torn knee.
With Aaron Rodgers still available, a prominent NFL insider says the team is having “very interesting conversations” internally — ones that could include the 20-year veteran.
Michael Silver Says ‘Don’t Rule Out Aaron Rodgers and the Vikings’
2024 was a chaotic year for the Vikings’ quarterback room. Darnold signed a one-year, $10 million deal last March, expecting to compete for the starting job. The team then selected McCarthy 10th overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, and he was trending toward the starting role before tearing his meniscus in the preseason opener.
Mullens had been with the team since 2022, while Jones joined Minnesota’s practice squad late in the regular season after being cut by the New York Giants. Jones was elevated to backup for the team’s Wild Card game against the Los Angeles Rams but never saw the field.
Darnold went on to have the best season of his career, throwing for career highs in yards (4,319), touchdowns (35), and completion percentage (66.2%) while leading the team to an unexpected 14-3 record. He made the Pro Bowl for the first time and finished No. 12 in PFSN’s QB+ metric.
Darnold’s standout performance led to a big contract with the Seattle Seahawks, while the other two veteran QBs also moved on. Jones agreed to terms with the Indianapolis Colts, while Mullens is heading to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
So, how will Minnesota fill out its quarterback room?
Long-time NFL insider Michael Silver may have an answer. He floated an intriguing idea on X, tweeting, “In the Vikings’ organization, Kevin O’Connell’s opinion carries the most weight when it comes to QB decisions. There are some very interesting conversations taking place right now.”
Who could those conversations be about? He followed up with another tweet responding to the Jones news.
“1) Consider Jones the favorite to beat out Anthony Richardson for the starting job; 2) Don’t rule out Aaron Rodgers and the Vikings.”
Rodgers landing in Minnesota would be an intriguing storyline. The 20-year vet would complete a Brett Favre-esque career arc, but would this be the right move for the Vikings?
Rodgers struggled in New York, suffering a torn Achilles in 2023 and finishing 5-12 last season. He ranked No. 21 in PFSN’s QB rankings, throwing for 3,897 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions.
Rodgers may have something left in the tank, but would the team rather start its first-round pick? He won’t want to be a backup, meaning the Vikings would be delaying McCarthy’s development another year.
It’s an intriguing idea from Silver, but it’s hard to see how it would work.