Aaron Rodgers’ future continues to be one of the biggest storylines of free agency as the veteran weighs his options. The four-time NFL MVP is reportedly considering the New York Giants, the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the Minnesota Vikings but has yet to make a decision.
And if the latest reports are accurate, that decision isn’t coming anytime soon.
Aaron Rodgers Taking His Time To Make Free Agency Decision
Rodgers was released by the New York Jets on March 15, and while he is believed to have offers from the Giants and the Steelers, the 41-year-old is waiting it out in hopes of signing with the Vikings, per The Athletic.
Minnesota needs a quarterback after Sam Darnold signed a three-year, $100 million deal with the Seattle Seahawks, but they also have second-year QB J.J. McCarthy. The team is weighing how Rodgers’ signing would impact McCarthy’s development.
As Rodgers waits for Minnesota’s decision, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that the veteran isn’t in a rush and could extend his decision timeline until the 2025 NFL Draft.
“Do you draft someone? That’s about a month away, so all of us would like this done sooner rather than later. I don’t get the sense that Rodgers is in any kind of hurry at all,” Rapoport said. “Could it drag out all the way to the draft like it did two years ago? Maybe it could.”
From The Insiders on @NFLNetwork: Two years ago, we all were still talking about Aaron Rodgers during NFL Draft week. Could history repeat itself? pic.twitter.com/Wg932uKNOv
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 17, 2025
Rodgers is no stranger to taking his time with NFL decisions. In 2023, he went on a “darkness retreat” to reflect on his future.
In 2024, Rodgers threw for 3,897 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions while starting all 17 games. He also added 94 rushing yards and a touchdown, finishing with a No. 21 ranking and a 72.2 rating (C-) in PFSN’s QB+ metric.
Despite solid stats, Rodgers and the Jets struggled to meet expectations. The offense ranked No. 19 in PFSN’s Offense+ metric with a score of 72.7 (C-), and New York ended the season 5-12, placing third in the AFC East.
Rodgers turns 42 in December and is entering his 21st NFL season. This will be his second season removed from the Achilles tear he suffered in Week 1 of 2023.
Rodgers’ 2024 Compared to Other NFL QBs
Rodgers’ 72.2 grade (C-tier) placed him in the lower half of the league, but he still ranked ahead of guys like Matthew Stafford and C.J. Stroud. With his 2025 status up in the air, PFSN’s 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 YPA ranks 30th and is very low, considering he’s getting 5.8 YAC/Cp, which ranks ninth this season.”
If the Giants or Steelers take a chance on Rodgers, it’ll need to be the right fit for both him and the organization.