No team likes signing former Green Bay Packers players more than the Minnesota Vikings. It's surprising, then, that they have distanced themselves from Aaron Rodgers, arguably the Packers' greatest quarterback.
Beyond one-upping a division rival, signing Rodgers would've made sense for the Vikings.
They have a Super Bowl-ready roster, which they evidently believe after spending big on veteran players in free agency. Rodgers played far better than many give him credit for last season with the New York Jets, throwing 28 touchdowns to 11 interceptions for a 90.5 passer rating.
Give him the keys to Kevin O'Connell's offense, and Rodgers would benefit from a significantly better system than what he worked with in New York. Getting to throw to the best wide receiver in football wouldn't hurt, either.
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Rodgers' presence in the locker room could've helped J.J. McCarthy's long-term development, not hindered it, but the Vikings seemingly want to rush him into a starting job.
The Vikings' loss only helps the Packers, especially if they start a quarterback with zero NFL snaps while their championship window is open. It becomes even funnier for Packers fans when finding out who the Vikings are potentially pivoting to.
Vikings could sign free agent Ryan Tannehill instead of making a move for Aaron Rodgers
According to FOX Sports' Jordan Schultz, the Vikings have held discussions with free-agent quarterback Ryan Tannehill.
If they sign him, the Vikings would have one quarterback with zero NFL snaps and another who won't have played in 609 days by the time Week 1 arrives.
Tannehill would be McCarthy's backup, right? Well, presumably, but it's not quite that simple. Last September, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported that Tannehill would be selective about his next team, wanting a situation "where he would be able to play the entire season." Why would he change his stance now to sit behind McCarthy?
In 2022, Tannehill said he didn't "think it's my job to mentor" current Packers quarterback Malik Willis while they were in Tennessee together.
That sounds a lot more Brett Favre than Aaron Rodgers. To Rodgers' credit, he went above and beyond to help Jordan Love develop during their three seasons together, and Rodgers has remained a huge supporter of Love since he left for New York.
Rodgers would've wanted a starting job in Minnesota, but is that such a bad thing? He could've given the Vikings a short-term solution and helped them win while mentoring McCarthy for their long-term success.
Instead, they could pivot to Tannehill, who threw four touchdowns and seven interceptions before the Titans benched him in 2023. He hasn't played in over a year.
Maybe Tannehill would happily sit on the bench and mentor the Vikings' young quarterback. But why would he accept that offer?
Rodgers seems destined to join the Steelers. We're thankful for that. The Vikings missed an opportunity, and their interest in Tannehill is a far better outcome for the Packers.