The New York Jets released Aaron Rodgers ahead of NFL free agency this offseason. Now, with less than a month to go before the 2025 NFL Draft, the future Hall of Fame quarterback is still without a team. Rodgers reportedly met with the Pittsburgh Steelers recently, but he hasn’t signed a deal.
The Steelers aren’t the only team that’s been linked to Rodgers this spring. The New York Giants and Minnesota Vikings have also come up in conversations. Still, those options appear to be fading fast.
Which Teams Are Still in Play for Aaron Rodgers?
The Vikings are out of the mix after committing to J.J. McCarthy, whom they drafted with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Minnesota appears ready to roll with the Michigan product after letting Sam Darnold walk to the Seattle Seahawks in free agency.
Meanwhile, the Giants have overhauled their quarterback room. They signed Jameis Winston to a two-year deal earlier this offseason, and on March 25, they added Russell Wilson on a one-year contract. With two veteran quarterbacks already in the building, a move for Rodgers seems unlikely.
That leaves Pittsburgh as the most likely landing spot unless a mystery team jumps into the mix — and one NFL analyst thinks that door is still wide open.
NFL Analyst Believes Rodgers Could Sign With a Team Other Than Steelers
NFL analyst Jeff Darlington discussed Rodgers’ free agency on Tuesday, March 25, on “UNSPORTSMANLIKE Radio.” When asked if a mystery team could still swoop in, Darlington didn’t rule it out.
“There is potential that Aaron Rodgers signs with another team other than the Steelers,” Darlington said.
“The Giants are potentially still a landing spot. The Vikings less so, but they are still a potential landing spot. It’s not necessarily a mystery. I think what people are doing is they’re just saying, ‘Well, why would he sign with the Giants?’ They are rationalizing things in their own heads as opposed to doing what people are telling me, which is, ‘Wait for Aaron.’”
One host asked why Rodgers is taking longer than other free agent quarterbacks to sign. The situation was compared to his 2022 exit from the Packers, when he made it known early that he wanted to join the Jets before being traded.
Darlington said Rodgers might not be fully sold on joining the Steelers. Whether that’s about the team or other factors remains unclear. But he raised an interesting point about the timing of any move.
“The facts here in front of us are that Aaron Rodgers met with the Steelers for six hours. He did not sign with them,” Darlington said.
“A lot can change, too. Say the Giants are a potential suitor for Aaron Rodgers. But also, if you’re Aaron, and the Steelers aren’t giving you a hard deadline, are you going to sit there and say, ‘I should lock myself in,’ when tomorrow, who knows what can happen?”
Darlington mentioned the Giants before they signed Wilson, but the broader point still holds. No one really knows what Rodgers will do — except Rodgers. And for now, it seems like he’s in no rush. Until he signs, the rest of the league is stuck waiting.
However, as is evidenced by the Giants’ move for Wilson, Rodgers’ gambit is a risky proposition. While he is reportedly aiming to gain leverage by waiting things out, teams might not be willing to wait around, opting to cover their bases instead. If Rodgers’ plan works out, he may be able to get the deal he wants. But if he waits too long, there may be no room left at the table to eat.