As NFL free agency continues, four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers remains unsigned. The 41-year-old veteran has been primarily linked to the Minnesota Vikings and Pittsburgh Steelers.
If Rodgers were to join Minnesota, he would complete the Brett Favre cycle — playing for the Green Bay Packers, New York Jets, and Vikings. However, if he landed in Pittsburgh, he could help form a dangerous offense that many initially expected.
Ex-NFL Players Not in Favor of Brett Favre Fantasy
With speculation swirling about where the future Hall of Fame QB will land, former NFL players have weighed in with their opinions. On the “Up & Adams Show,” ex-NFL quarterback Dan Orlovsky urged Minnesota not to pursue Rodgers.
“If I were Minnesota, I would not do that. That’s nothing negative against Aaron.”@danorlovsky7 doesn't believe the Vikings should sign Aaron Rodgers and explains why. ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/rAcMoUYQWH
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) March 17, 2025
Orlovsky clarified that his stance against Rodgers to the Vikings wasn’t a knock on the one-time Super Bowl champ but rather a reflection of Minnesota’s current direction.
“Once Minnesota let Sam Darnold walk out of their building, they made a clear line of demarcation,” Orlovsky said. “We are moving forward with J.J. McCarthy, and I think that is the right decision.”
Orlovsky also discussed Rodgers’ potential fit in Pittsburgh and what the veteran may be considering.
“I would imagine he’s planning for, well, if Minnesota comes to him and says no, then is it Pittsburgh? Does he want to go to Pittsburgh? Does he think he can play well in Pittsburgh? Does he think they can win in Pittsburgh?” Orlovsky questioned.
Like Orlovsky, former Super Bowl champion and analyst James Jones believes Rodgers in Minnesota would be bad news for the Vikings.
.@89JonesNTAF agrees with the Vikings leaning towards not signing Aaron Rodgers:
"He will slow the development of J.J. McCarthy." pic.twitter.com/Pcqk5GkhsU
— The Facility (@TheFacilityFS1) March 17, 2025
Jones, a former NFL wide receiver who spent much of his career catching passes from Rodgers, still has a great relationship with the QB. However, he believes Rodgers is no longer the same player.
“I love Aaron Rodgers, y’all know that,” Jones said. “But if you have J.J. McCarthy, a top-10 quarterback that you drafted, who was playing well, I believe he would have beaten Sam Darnold out if he did not get hurt. You have him in the building — develop him!”
Jones believes the Vikings should take advantage of McCarthy’s rookie contract rather than splurging on Rodgers, which he says would “stunt” the Michigan product’s development.
Aaron Rodgers’ 2024 in Comparison to Other NFL QBs
Rodgers finished 21st in PFSN’s 2024 QB+ rankings. His 72.2 grade (C-tier) placed him in the lower half of the league, but he still ranked ahead of Matthew Stafford and C.J. Stroud. With his 2025 status uncertain, Ben Rolfe broke down what led to Rodgers’ below-average performance.
“On the season, Rodgers has a -0.02 EPA/DB (27th), ranks 36th from a clean pocket (0.07 EPA/DB), and has converted just 33.5% of the time on third down (29th). His 6.2 nYPA ranks 30th and is very low, considering he’s getting 5.8 YAC/Cp, which ranks ninth this season.”
If the Vikings or Steelers take a chance on Rodgers, it will need to be the right fit for both him and the organization.