Aaron Rodgers is running out of options.
The Giants decided to move on from the 41-year-old as he ponders his next move, agreeing to a one-year contract worth up to $21 million on Tuesday with 36-year-old Russell Wilson, who will get $10.5 million guaranteed.
So the Giants will ride with Wilson, the recently signed Jameis Winston, Tommy DeVito and potentially a draft pick in their quarterback room.
That essentially leaves Rodgers with one avenue if he wants to return to the NFL for a 21st season.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Rodgers met with Steelers brass at the team’s facility on Friday, signaling both sides’ interest in teaming up, though no deal was reached at the time.
The Steelers had Wilson and Justin Fields last season but lost both players to New York teams, as the Jets signed Fields to a two-year, $40 million contract when free agency started.
Pittsburgh brought back Mason Rudolph after he spent one year with the Titans, though having him be the starter on a team with championship aspirations would be uninspiring.
Longtime Steelers star Cam Heyward, a seven-time Pro Bowler, recently said on his “Not Just Football” podcast that he would not be going out of his way to recruit Rodgers, essentially telling him if he wants to be there, then sign up. And if not, move along.
“I ain’t doing that darkness retreat. I don’t need any of that crap,” Heyward said. “Either you want to be a Pittsburgh Steeler or you don’t. That’s simple. That’s the pitch. If you want me to recruit, that’s the recruiting pitch. Pittsburgh Steelers, if you want to be a part of it, so be it. If you don’t, no skin off my back.”
If it doesn’t work out between the two sides…
Retirement
Though the tea leaves suggest Rodgers wants to keep playing — not wanting to go out with a 5-12 season with the Jets — he could choose to ride off into the Malibu sunset after another soul-searching stroll on the beach.
He can return to his weekly pulpit on “The Pat McAfee Show,” start a podcast or start his own ayahuasca resort.
Unless the team he really wants to play for comes calling.
Minnesota Vikings
The Athletic reported earlier this month that Rodgers wanted to join the Vikings, a team coming off a 14-win season that would represent his greatest opportunity at returning to the Super Bowl.
With Sam Darnold leaving for the Seahawks and J.J. McCarthy having missed his entire rookie season following knee surgery, Rodgers would give head coach Kevin O’Connell and Co. more time to prepare McCarthy.
But NFL Network then reported last week that the Vikings were “not pursuing” Rodgers, intending to roll with McCarthy as the team’s starter.
If that is truly the plan, however, nobody told McCarthy.
The 22-year-old said in an interview with Kay Adams on her “Up & Adams” show that the Vikings “haven’t told” him that he’s the starter, which he said he’s happy about because he wants to earn the job and not have it handed to him.
But it does beg the question: Have the Vikings truly closed the door on Rodgers?
