The Aaron Rodgers saga continued well into the offseason, which was incredibly predictable. If there's one thing the future Hall of Fame quarterback has made clear over the last couple of years, things happen on his terms.
After a long, drawn-out saga, Rodgers ultimately signed a deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers ahead of the 2025 NFL season.
The Steelers were one option that Rodgers had throughout the offseason, but it may not have been his best. We'll rank the three best options Rodgers had before committing to Pittsburgh.
1. Minnesota Vikings
The best fit for the veteran passer would have been Minnesota. They have an established offensive head coach, Kevin O'Connell, and an all-world wide receiver, Justin Jefferson. Jordan Addison is also emerging as a strong second option, which would have given Rodgers a boatload of weapons to work with. His former Green Bay Packers teammate, running back Aaron Jones, is also in Minnesota.
There have been reports indicating that the Vikings aren't as all-in on young quarterback J.J. McCarthy as they've been saying, which would have opened the door for Rodgers in Minnesota. The only risk Rodgers ran by going there was the potential of benching in favor of a high-pedigree player like McCarthy. We thought Rodgers would have been thrilled to take his chances with such a talented team around him.
2. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers always seemed to be the favorites to land Aaron Rodgers. Their quarterback room was skinny with Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson. Rodgers has the job all to himself, which is something that most teams would not have been able to promise unequivocally.
It's anyone's guess how Rodgers and Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith will coexist, but it sounds like they spent some time together during the offseason comparing notes. Rodgers has proven to be unique in his preparation and regimen, but ultimately, Pittsburgh offers the most stable culture of any team he could have gone to. That may have been why he eventually decided to sign with them.
3. New Orleans Saints
At this career stage, Rodgers prioritizes winning over anything else. For those reasons, the Saints probably weren't a likely destination. NFL odds signify that New Orleans is expected to enter a rebuild in the 2025 season and perhaps beyond.
However, there were a few things for Rodgers to consider in New Orleans. New Saints head coach Kellen Moore has a strong offensive background, and he could have put Rodgers in favorable situations. Despite the latter's concussion concerns, you could also do much worse than having Alvin Kamara as the top running back and Chris Olave as the top wideout. Additionally, New Orleans is a franchise without much stability right now, which means they have acquiesced to Rodgers' demands on and off the field. It's unlikely Pittsburgh will completely cede control to him, given their organizational structure.
