When Aaron Rodgers was let go by the New York Jets, there was no doubt he would have a fair amount of suitors. Despite his advanced age and poor stint in New York, Rodgers showed he can still put up numbers during the final stretch of the 2024 season. That was enough for three teams in particular to push hard to secure his signature: the Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Giants and Minnesota Vikings.

On Wednesday, the Vikings dropped out of the running to sign him. Seemingly growing tired of Rodgers’ indecisiveness, the team is moving forward with young J.J. McCarthy as their franchise quarterback. That would mean it’s down to the Steelers and Giants for Rodgers, who hasn’t discarded retirement. But could the Vikings still be an option later on?

Could Aaron Rodgers wait until right before Week 1 to choose where to play?

Sports Illustrated’s Conor Orr wasn’t too surprised with the Vikings’ decision, but he’s seeing it in a different way than others. He doesn’t believe the Vikings aren’t interested; he just thinks neither side is ready to commit right now.

While any plan has its pitfalls, the handling of this situation from the Vikings’ perspective-as well as Rodgers’s-has been absolutely brilliant… Rodgers, it would seem, is allowing himself the breathing room of not having to attend an optional NFL training program, which, at various points in his career, he has demonstrated his feelings on.

Orr believes Rodgers wants to skip all the offseason stuff and just play football. He wouldn’t be surprised if Rodgers waits until right before the season begins before making a decision on where he wants to play.

He doesn’t think the Vikings’ door is closed, especially if McCarthy struggles in camp and preseason. He also thinks the Steelers and Giants “would still have a hard time saying no” if Rodgers says he wants to join “a few days before the start of Week 1“. If that’s the case, we might as well put Rodgers out of our minds for the time being.