Offseason Thread

[Angels Wings]

I could see bringing Rodgers in if KOC was in a do or die situation like Chilly was. He signed a new contract that stretchers somewhere out in the future. He's in a no lose situation. He can write this season off as a QB development year. Maybe KAM will put pressure on to win the whole dam thing so he can keep his job. If that's the case Rodgers could be the starter.

Dear God, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!

[psjordan]

Lots of angst here about Rodgers being a maybe yes, maybe no.

IMO the Vikes are sifting through a LOT of variables here. Various reports claim various things, such as Flacco is still in play for the Vikes, the Dolphins would LOVE to get McCarthy, etc. Who knows what's actually true - but most of it is at least possible, if not probable.

So I can see the puzzle getting pretty complex for KAM and KOC, with a lot of permutations.

Having Rodgers on the team doesn't bother me in and of itself. With McCarthy on the roster and in the wings it bothers me. With no clear-cut replacement after year one, that would bother me. Paying him $35M (supposedly his asking price) would bother me. But just considering him as our QB doesn't really bother me.

They need a QB plan, and that is why IMO they are hanging on to the $30M cap money for now.

Do they consider Rodgers and trade McCarthy? I get the sense more than a few teams would give up really great draft capital. Then what? Trade for Joe Milton now and try to draft another QB in 2026? Who in this draft would be worth say getting the Dolphins #13 pick in the first round (plus whatever else)? What if the Dolphins gave up 2025 and 2026 #1's for McCarthy? If so, Rodgers looks like a better fit as our 2025 QB.

Keep McCarthy and sign Flacco/Wilson/etc.? That's putting a fair amount of faith that McCarthy is ready to start at some point during the year, physically and mentally.

I just think they are dealing with a lot of unknowns and are probably having meeting after meeting to try and figure it all out. Probably dozens and dozens of phone calls with other teams. Scouring potential 2026 and 2027 QB draftees. Etc. Etc.

All I know is with all the recent moves and surely more to come, this has been a very entertaining offseason - in a good way IMO.

[40for60]

Well, then there is this:

The Connection:
Given Mike Silver's Cal background and his reporting on Aaron Rodgers, it is possible that the two have a connection.

So is the tail wagging the dog?

For the most part, it is the Athletic, who Mike Silver works for, pushing this. Other national reporters, such as Tom Pellisero (NFL Network who lives in the Twin Cities area and plugged into the Vikings) says the Vikings are not considering it. I pray that’s the case.

[VikingLord]

Having Rodgers on the team doesn't bother me in and of itself. With McCarthy on the roster and in the wings it bothers me. With no clear-cut replacement after year one, that would bother me. Paying him $35M (supposedly his asking price) would bother me. But just considering him as our QB doesn't really bother me.

It bothers me for the following reasons:

- Rodgers is clearly past his prime. He has underperformed since he left the Packers, and he was especially ineffective last year.
- Rodgers is controversial, and not in a good way. His public statements draw a lot of negative attention to him and to his team by extension. I don't want him to bring that to the Vikings even if he is capable of improving his on-field performance at this point, which I'm not sure he can anymore.
- Rodgers is selfish. He missed a mandatory camp before last season because he had apparently scheduled a vacation at the same time. That is unprofessional and interferes with his ability to put in critical preseason work with his teammates and coaches. There is a good reason the Jets released him and he's still on the market. Teams, especially bad teams, don't let good QBs walk. They never outright release them, and in the unlikely even such a QB does become available, they've got bidders lined up and are off the market on Day One of free agency. Rodgers is still out there, and that says all I need to know about how Rodgers is viewed around the league as a person and a player and this point.

Do they consider Rodgers and trade McCarthy? I get the sense more than a few teams would give up really great draft capital. Then what? Trade for Joe Milton now and try to draft another QB in 2026? Who in this draft would be worth say getting the Dolphins #13 pick in the first round (plus whatever else)? What if the Dolphins gave up 2025 and 2026 #1's for McCarthy? If so, Rodgers looks like a better fit as our 2025 QB.

I don't know where this talk about trading McCarthy comes from. I truly do not. They moved up to draft him last year, and by all accounts he had a great offseason, preseason, and showed a lot of great things in his limited preseason playing time before he got hurt. Why would a team that has chronically sought a young QB to develop into a franchise starter ever trade him away before he even gets his chance to show if he can be the guy? So what, the team can bring on another aging, failing, overpriced vet to take a one-season swing at a Superbowl? If KAM and KOC were to do something like that, be it with Rodgers or anyone else, I'm done watching this team until both are replaced.

Keep McCarthy and sign Flacco/Wilson/etc.? That's putting a fair amount of faith that McCarthy is ready to start at some point during the year, physically and mentally.

As George Michael so aptly put it, you gotta have faith. They scouted him. They drafted him. They have seen him play and practice. He's had a whole season to sit and study and learn. They should know what they have in him at this point. If there is any doubt there, then I'd expect them to move him if he can provide more value in trade than he can on the field. But I don't think that is going to happen because I think he'll be ready. I think they're considering only vet backup options at this point.

All I know is with all the recent moves and surely more to come, this has been a very entertaining offseason - in a good way IMO.

I agree with you on this. KAM has moved aggressively to shore up the team. With the possible exception of the secondary, he's addressed almost all of the weaker areas of last year's team. If I had to make a prediction, I'd say a big chunk of that $30 million in cap space that remains is going to shore up the secondary in addition to finding a backup vet QB who won't be named Aaron Rodgers. But there is no doubt KAM is making moves that should put the Vikings back into contention this coming season.

[Cliff]

Would they even have the cap to sign Rodgers if they wanted to? They seem to have basically spent their "high dollar" player cash.

Latest I’ve heard is that the Vikings are still $30+million under the cap, due to a lot of back-ending of the deals they’ve signed. That was before they signed Jordan Mason (great pickup, by the way) but his deal doesn’t use up that much.

Which brings me to a grave concern … why are the Vikings holding on to so much cap space for 2025?

Please, please somebody tell me it’s NOT so they can sign Aaron Rodgers.

They may ne working on another trade or trying to get players that are still negotiating. They could still use some help in the secondary and a decent backup QB. The only chance we'll see Rodgers if is he'll take backup QB money and be willing to sit. I don’t think he'll sit even if some reports are true and he would take less money.

[40for60]

Latest I’ve heard is that the Vikings are still $30+million under the cap, due to a lot of back-ending of the deals they’ve signed. That was before they signed Jordan Mason (great pickup, by the way) but his deal doesn’t use up that much.

Which brings me to a grave concern … why are the Vikings holding on to so much cap space for 2025?

Please, please somebody tell me it’s NOT so they can sign Aaron Rodgers.

They may ne working on another trade or trying to get players that are still negotiating. They could still use some help in the secondary and a decent backup QB. The only chance we'll see Rodgers if is he'll take backup QB money and be willing to sit. I don’t think he'll sit even if some reports are true and he would take less money.

While if they wanted Rodgers they could certainly make it work, they still need a portion of that cap space to sign draft picks and also need to save some for in-season moves (eg., Cam Robinson last season).

I wish they would sign a backup now to end this nonsense.

[40for60]

From Jeremy Fowler, ESPN:

"The feeling is there's not just a money consideration here. There's fit, there's surroundings, all those things. The Minnesota Vikings are sort of on the periphery here. Sources there tell me that it's possible they get involved with Rodgers, but the feeling this week has been probably not. They want to develop J.J. McCarthy."

[Cliff]

They may ne working on another trade or trying to get players that are still negotiating. They could still use some help in the secondary and a decent backup QB. The only chance we'll see Rodgers if is he'll take backup QB money and be willing to sit. I don’t think he'll sit even if some reports are true and he would take less money.

While if they wanted Rodgers they could certainly make it work, they still need a portion of that cap space to sign draft picks and also need to save some for in-season moves (eg., Cam Robinson last season).

I wish they would sign a backup now to end this nonsense.

Good points.

Me too! Though as far as I can tell they haven't done anything to create these rumors, just random media people trying to get attention more than anything.

[Cliff]

From Jeremy Fowler, ESPN:

"The feeling is there's not just a money consideration here. There's fit, there's surroundings, all those things. The Minnesota Vikings are sort of on the periphery here. Sources there tell me that it's possible they get involved with Rodgers, but the feeling this week has been probably not. They want to develop J.J. McCarthy."

I think so too, but I also think the plan was to allow JJM to sit for two seasons if he needed to. I think they want to bring in another Darnold type for a year. Someone that is just on the fringe of being a starter somewhere and could realistically give the Vikings a chance to win if JJM isn't ready or gets injured again. Rodgers would fit that if he took a 1-year/10m type deal so it's not out of the question, but I don't think they'll throw what's left of their cap at him.

[CharVike]

I think maybe Carson Wentz is the guy they bring in. He knows our offense so little learning curve. Can he play? If he could he wouldn't be a career backup. I saw the Browns are in the mix for him. But they seem to be linked to every QB available or might be available except Rodgers.

[Cliff]

I think maybe Carson Wentz is the guy they bring in. He knows our offense so little learning curve. Can he play? If he could he wouldn't be a career backup. I saw the Browns are in the mix for him. But they seem to be linked to every QB available or might be available except Rodgers.

I'd be ok with him. Joe Flacco might be a good fit. Russell Wilson would work too.

[CharVike]

I think maybe Carson Wentz is the guy they bring in. He knows our offense so little learning curve. Can he play? If he could he wouldn't be a career backup. I saw the Browns are in the mix for him. But they seem to be linked to every QB available or might be available except Rodgers.

I'd be ok with him. Joe Flacco might be a good fit. Russell Wilson would work too.

Flacco might be the best from the mental side and he could help JJM. He's seen it all. I don't care for Wilson.

[Cliff]

I'd be ok with him. Joe Flacco might be a good fit. Russell Wilson would work too.

Flacco might be the best from the mental side and he could help JJM. He's seen it all. I don't care for Wilson.

Speaking of Flacco:

https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/minn ... e_vignette

We know one thing for sure. Brett Rypien is not going to be QB2 in Minnesota next season. Beyond that, and the Rodgers rumors, reports on which veteran quarterbacks the Vikings value most out of those remaining have been mostly non-existent.

That was until today, when respected NFL insider Albert Breer (Sports Illustrated) reported in his Monday Morning Quarterback column that the MN Vikings have been in contact with the other 40-year-old Super Bowl winner still on the market, Joe Flacco.

“Joe Flacco visited the Giants last week—which was a way, I think, for the team to check him out, and for Flacco to get his name back in circulation. Yes, he’s 40. But as a one-year solution, at a way cheaper rate than Cousins or Rodgers, I think the guy can still play. And the Browns, Steelers and Vikings think enough of him still to have checked on him.”

[40for60]

Garrett Bradbury released. https://www.si.com/nfl/vikings/news/no ... jpjzv0kwtx

[CharVike]

Flacco might be the best from the mental side and he could help JJM. He's seen it all. I don't care for Wilson.

Speaking of Flacco:

https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/minn ... e_vignette

We know one thing for sure. Brett Rypien is not going to be QB2 in Minnesota next season. Beyond that, and the Rodgers rumors, reports on which veteran quarterbacks the Vikings value most out of those remaining have been mostly non-existent.

That was until today, when respected NFL insider Albert Breer (Sports Illustrated) reported in his Monday Morning Quarterback column that the MN Vikings have been in contact with the other 40-year-old Super Bowl winner still on the market, Joe Flacco.

“Joe Flacco visited the Giants last week—which was a way, I think, for the team to check him out, and for Flacco to get his name back in circulation. Yes, he’s 40. But as a one-year solution, at a way cheaper rate than Cousins or Rodgers, I think the guy can still play. And the Browns, Steelers and Vikings think enough of him still to have checked on him.”

Nothing like having a solid vet. I could live with him. Cousins and Rodgers would be foolish. Get the JJM train rolling and be done with it. IMO if they weren't sold on him Darnold would have got the Seahawk contract with us. That's very affordable for a starter who played like he did for us.