The new league year has officially begun for the NFL, and quarterback Aaron Rodgers is a free agent for the first time in his career. The Minnesota Vikings could be in the market for Rodgers after losing Sam Darnold, Daniel Jones, and Nick Mullens in free agency.
With fewer quarterback-needy teams left, three-time Super Bowl champion Mark Schlereth believes the Vikings would be serious NFC contenders if they signed the 20-year veteran.
Aaron Rodgers Makes Vikings Super Bowl Contenders
2024 was an eventful year for the Vikings’ quarterback room. Darnold signed a one-year, $10 million deal last March, expecting to compete for the starting job, while the team selected J.J. McCarthy 10th overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. The Vikings also had Mullens and added Jones in mid-November.
McCarthy suffered a torn meniscus in the preseason opener, forcing Darnold into the starting role. The seven-year pro had the best season of his career, setting career highs in yards (4,319), touchdowns (35), and completion percentage (66.2%) while leading the team to a surprising 14-3 record. He made the Pro Bowl for the first time and finished No. 12 in PFSN’s QB+ metric.
Darnold has since signed a big-money deal with the Seattle Seahawks, Jones joined the Indianapolis Colts, and Mullens landed with the Jacksonville Jaguars. So, how will Minnesota fill its quarterback room?
Rodgers has been linked to Minnesota this offseason, and “Breakfast Ball” host Craig Carton recently said the Vikings would be his second-favorite to win the NFC if they signed the veteran quarterback.
Carton said, “If Aaron Rodgers is the starting QB of the Minnesota Vikings, I’ll make them the 2nd favorite team in the NFC behind the Eagles to go to the Super Bowl. That’s how good the Vikings would be with Aaron Rodgers.”
I"f Aaron Rodgers is the starting QB of the Minnesota Vikings, I'll make them the 2nd favorite team in the NFC behind the Eagles to go to the Super Bowl." — @craigcartonlive@markschlereth: "I think they are a Super Bowl contender with Aaron Rodgers." pic.twitter.com/JNwMWzNUkU
— Breakfast Ball (@BrkfstBallOnFS1) March 13, 2025
Three-time Super Bowl champion Mark Schlereth agreed with Carton, saying, “I think they are a Super Bowl contender with Aaron Rodgers. You look at this offense; one, they addressed this offensive line this offseason in free agency. They’re better up front. They know how to run the ball.”
Minnesota added offensive linemen Ryan Kelly and Will Fries in free agency to bolster one of the weakest parts of its offense in 2024.
Schlereth continued, “Kevin O’Connell operates that offense that Matt LaFleur operated when they won 13 games a year with Aaron Rodgers. And Aaron Rodgers, second half of the season, started moving better. He was throwing the ball exceptionally well. I think they’re a contender.”
Rodgers had three standout seasons under LaFleur in Green Bay, making the Pro Bowl three times and winning two MVP awards. If the Vikings signed Rodgers, and he adapted well to O’Connell’s offense, the team could be a significant threat.
Schlereth added, “If they can go to the playoffs with Sam Darnold, why couldn’t they be a contender with [Jordan] Addison, with [Justin] Jefferson, with [T.J.] Hockenson…They could win a championship with those guys, there’s no question in my mind.”
Letting Rodgers run that offense would make the Vikings a must-watch every week.