The New York Giants are headed back to the drawing board.
With Matthew Stafford agreeing to a restructured deal to stay with the Los Angeles Rams, the Giants must look at alternative options. New York was one of the teams that reportedly met with Stafford's agent about a possible move.
ESPN's Adam Schefter and The Athletic's Dianna Russini are both reporting that the Giants are now looking at secondary options, including Aaron Rodgers.
Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reported that Rodgers did contact the Giants about their opening and if there could be potential interest.
The Giants have been searching for a new starting quarterback after cutting Daniel Jones back in November. New York has the second overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Rodgers threw for 3,897 yards passing with 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions last season with the Jets, who finished with a 5-12 record. After missing the playoffs for a 14th consecutive season, the team said they would not bring the veteran quarterback back in 2025.
The four-time MVP, the fifth player in NFL history to throw 500 touchdown passes in the regular season, has one year left on his contract, worth a non-guaranteed $37.5 million.
New York would absorb a $49 million dead money charge next season unless it designates Rodgers a post-June 1 cut and can spread out that charge over two years. If the Jets do that, Rodgers would remain on their roster — while carrying a $23.5 salary cap charge — until the start of the NFL's new league year on March 12.
Rodgers has 503 regular-season touchdown passes (fifth in NFL history), joining Tom Brady (649), Drew Brees (571), Peyton Manning (539) and Brett Favre (508) as the only players to throw at least 500.
Rodgers, whose 62,952 yards passing rank seventh in NFL history, led the Packers to their last Super Bowl title in the 2010 season but hasn’t played on football’s biggest stage since, despite reaching the NFC championship game four other times.
--With files from the Associated Press.
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