The Minnesota Vikings have committed to building their roster around J.J. McCarthy as their starting quarterback while temporarily putting aside the possibility of signing Aaron Rodgers — though the door remains slightly open.
General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah confirmed Wednesday that the team had in-depth discussions about and with Rodgers, the four-time NFL MVP recently released by the New York Jets.
“A player of his caliber will always be part of those conversations,” Adofo-Mensah said. “But at that time, we felt good about the direction we were heading.”
The Vikings’ plan has always been to hand the offense to McCarthy this season, despite the unexpected injury that wiped out his rookie year and gave Sam Darnold the chance to shine.
“When you invest significant resources into drafting J.J., that’s the outcome you aim for,” Adofo-Mensah said. “That’s where we’re headed.”
However, Rodgers’ interest in joining the Vikings made him a compelling option, even at 41 years old. Head coach Kevin O’Connell, who has a prior relationship with Rodgers, had extensive conversations with him about the team’s direction.
“Given where we are right now, we didn’t feel it was the right move,” Adofo-Mensah said, marking the Vikings’ first public comments since the start of free agency two weeks ago.
One key factor was the financial impact. McCarthy’s rookie contract offers significant salary cap flexibility, which would be compromised by bringing in Rodgers on a larger deal. Last year, the Vikings paid Darnold $10 million to bridge the gap, but Rodgers’ contract would undoubtedly be more expensive.
Still, the Vikings haven’t ruled out revisiting the idea if McCarthy’s health or development becomes a concern — provided Rodgers doesn’t join another team like the Pittsburgh Steelers.
“You can never say anything is 100% certain,” Adofo-Mensah said. “We respond to changing scenarios and new information, but we’re very happy with our current quarterback room.”
McCarthy, the 10th overall pick in the 2024 draft, said on FanDuel TV’s “Up and Adams Show” that the Vikings haven’t officially named him the starter.
“I’m glad they haven’t,” McCarthy said. “I want to earn it every day. I never want it handed to me.”
He also said he feels fully recovered from knee surgery to repair a torn meniscus, which aligns with the team’s medical assessments.
“At every stage — from the draft process to practice and now the offseason — he has consistently met and exceeded expectations,” Adofo-Mensah said.
While the quarterback depth chart remains somewhat unsettled, with Brett Rypien as the only other QB on the roster, the Vikings have made significant upgrades to other key areas.
They strengthened both lines by adding defensive tackles Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave, center Ryan Kelly, and right guard Will Fries. In the secondary, Byron Murphy was re-signed, and Isaiah Rodgers and Jeff Okudah were brought in to fill gaps left by departing veterans. They also restructured safety Harrison Smith’s contract for his 14th NFL season.
On offense, the Vikings re-signed Aaron Jones and traded for Jordan Mason to bolster the running back room. They also added Rondale Moore to their receiving corps.
“We wanted to build a team that can support a young quarterback who competes every day,” Adofo-Mensah said.
Injuries were a challenge last season, with players like Allen, Hargrave, Kelly, Fries, Okudah, and Moore all missing significant time. Allen, Hargrave, and Kelly are also in their 30s.
“We’re always trying to find value where we can,” Adofo-Mensah said.
As Adofo-Mensah enters the final year of his contract, he has yet to sign an extension, unlike O’Connell, who received one two months ago. Despite that, Adofo-Mensah expressed no concern.
“I don’t spend a second worrying about that,” he said. “I wake up focused on improving this team, beating our division rivals, making the playoffs, and going even further.”