As NFL Draft week unfolds and quarterback questions swirl across the league, one name continues to linger on the open market, Aaron Rodgers.
Despite being one of the most accomplished signal-callers in NFL history, the 41-year-old remains unsigned after his release from the New York Jets in March.
Rodgers still looking for the best opportunity
With the New Orleans Saints facing uncertainty around Derek Carr’s shoulder injury, speculation has grown over whether the franchise might explore veteran options.
Rodgers, a four-time MVP and Super Bowl XLV champion, is arguably the most experienced free agent still available. And now, a former teammate is weighing in.
Thomas Morstead, a longtime NFL punter who briefly played with Rodgers during his time with the Jets, spoke candidly about the quarterback this week.
While Rodgers’ public image remains divisive, Morstead painted a more nuanced picture.
“I can tell you he’s still got it. He does wild things daily, just being at practice,” Morstead said, according to nola.com.
He added that the future Hall of Famer was impressive not only on the field but also as a teammate.
“It was a cool experience being teammates with him.”
Rodgers missed most of the 2023 season due to a torn Achilles, but returned in 2024 to post respectable numbers: 3,897 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions, despite the Jets finishing with a disappointing 5-12 record.
Along the way, he became just the fifth player in NFL history to notch 500 career touchdown passes and surpassed 60,000 passing yards.
Morstead acknowledged Rodgers’ often controversial reputation, referencing the quarterback’s stances on non-football topics like COVID-19 and ayahuasca.
“I would say that he’s a little bit of a misunderstood guy,” Morstead said.
“And obviously, he’s been in the media for non-football-related things and has been polarizing. And I’ll say: He hasn’t been wrong about a lot of things after the fact. Really interesting guy.”
Rodgers has reportedly drawn interest from the Steelers, Giants, and Vikings but has not signed with any team.
According to The Athletic, he’s looking for a franchise that will fully embrace him.
“I think Aaron wants someone to roll out the red carpet for him,” NFL insider Mike Silver said this week.
With over $28 million in cap space, New Orleans could afford Rodgers, who’s said he’d play for $10 million, but whether the Saints will make that move remains to be seen.
For now, Rodgers appears content to wait, eyeing a team that truly wants him under center.
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