The Minnesota Vikings could've had it all. They built a roster poised to build on their 14-win season, and signing Aaron Rodgers would've helped them go all-in while delivering a massive slap in the Green Bay Packers' face.
Steal their franchise legend and chase a championship? Again? It could've happened.
Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reported in the offseason that Rodgers "reached out to the Vikings" with the goal of "making a one-year run at a Lombardi." And most importantly, he wanted to mentor second-year quarterback JJ McCarthy.
The Vikings said no, pinning their Super Bowl hopes on McCarthy. Two weeks into the season, it looks like a disastrous decision.
Vikings' decision to snub Aaron Rodgers already looks like a massive mistake
McCarthy is undoubtedly the Vikings' future. Signing Rodgers wouldn't have changed that. You only have to look at how sitting behind the four-time MVP helped Jordan Love.
Love has said repeatedly how great Rodgers was to him and the positive impact he made on his development. Rodgers could've done the same with McCarthy. On top of that, he would've given the Vikings a capable starter to lift their short-term Super Bowl hopes and stuck it to the Packers in the process.
Can you imagine how awful that would've been, watching another Packers Hall of Fame QB wearing the ugly purple? It should've been the easiest decision in the world for Minnesota. Instead, they gambled with their 2024 first-round pick.
McCarthy has made a rough start to the season. Outside of a miracle fourth quarter versus Chicago in Week 1, it's almost all gone wrong. On Sunday Night Football, he completed just 11 of 21 passes for 158 yards, no touchdowns, and two interceptions with a 37.5 passer rating. He also fumbled three times.
Minnesota scored six points in an embarrassing home defeat.
The second-year QB threw for only 143 yards in the season opener — his two fourth-quarter passing touchdowns masked his poor play from the previous three quarters. He had struggled for most of the game, including throwing a pick-six.
McCarthy has shown he can become a capable QB1. The flashes of potential are there. But that's not what the Vikings need. They have the third-oldest roster in the NFL and made all-in moves, like signing 32-year-old defensive end Javon Hargrave, 32-year-old center Ryan Kelly, and 30-year-old defensive end Jonathan Allen in free agency. These are win-now signings.
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Rodgers was the final piece they needed. Packers fans will be relieved they didn't agree.
While Rodgers isn't the MVP quarterback he once was, he has kicked off the season with five touchdowns to two interceptions. Put him in a Kevin O'Connell offense with a good offensive line and Justin Jefferson, and the Vikings would've had a far better chance of winning now.
As an added benefit, they would've taken the pressure off McCarthy and given him the perfect mentor. And it'd be the Packers' worst nightmare. Rodgers would've tarnished his Packers legacy by following the Brett Favre career arc.
Turns out, the Vikings don't particularly like winning Super Bowls, and that's just fine by us. McCarthy might become a great quarterback in the future, but Minnesota looks a long way off from competing at the top of the NFC this season.
The Vikings love to sign former Packers. Greg Jennings, Brett Favre, Aaron Jones, the list goes on. But it's the one move they didn't make that could cost them.