Could Aaron Rodgers still pick Giants over Steelers amid Vikings' uncertainty?

It reportedly is a "safe bet" that the Pittsburgh Steelers will eventually sign free-agent quarterback Aaron Rodgers, in part because Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith is "excited" to work with the future Hall of Famer after Rodgers spent more than six hours visiting the team on Friday.

However, NFL insider Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated suggested in a piece published on Monday that Rodgers hasn't completely closed the door on signing with the New York Giants instead of the Steelers this spring.

"Steelers folks seemed to think coming out of their meeting that he’d probably do a similar day with the Giants to get a vibe for their building and what head coach Brian Daboll and GM Joe Schoen have built," Breer wrote about Rodgers. "Unlike the Steelers, the Giants would look to Rodgers to do what the Jets envisioned him accomplishing and lift a growing, young core brimming with potential within a franchise that’s fallen on hard times. The Steelers meeting did come together quickly, and I heard that Rodgers was planning to spend some time at his home in the New York area, so getting over to see the Giants wouldn’t be overly complicated."

Rodgers raised eyebrows when he mentioned in December he "just re-did" his house in New Jersey when he was a member of the New York Jets. That comment caused some to wonder if he could pick the Giants over teams such as the Steelers even though Big Blue finished this past season at 3-14. 

With that said, the Steelers are coming off a playoff berth and may need only average quarterback play to return to the postseason in January 2026. Breer noted that his "sense is that whatever Rodgers decides will come down to what he sees as the best football situation" and that Rodgers probably likes that Pittsburgh features a roster that "is stocked with decorated veterans" and "would carry a similar win-now urgency."

There is also the possibility that Rodgers will meet with Daboll and Schoen but stay unsigned until the Minnesota Vikings make a final decision about possibly starting 2024 first-round draft pick J.J. McCarthy over the 41-year-old. McCarthy spent his rookie campaign recovering from a full meniscus repair, and it was previously reported that "many" people associated with the Vikings "supported the idea of adding Rodgers" because McCarthy is "a less-than-certain option."

"No one has a timeline," Breer added about when Rodgers could confirm his plans for the 2025 season. In short, it sounds like this saga could drag on into April with the Giants still looking to add to their quarterback room after they agreed to a deal with journeyman Jameis Winston ahead of this past weekend. 

In theory, signing Rodgers wouldn't necessarily take selecting a quarterback such as Colorado's Shedeur Sanders with the third pick of the 2025 draft off the table for the Giants.