A couple NFL analysts believe that the Indianapolis Colts could be a potential landing spot for quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
After reports surfaced recently that the New York Jets were ready to move on from Rodgers, the team announced on Thursday that the two would be parting ways.
https://t.co/Eovu2itIYy pic.twitter.com/FkcNRmH0OQ
— New York Jets (@nyjets) February 13, 2025
So with that, the speculation about what’s next for Rodgers is off an running. Does he retire? Or does he return for the 2025 season?
If Rodgers does choose to play this season, Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports named the Colts, along with Las Vegas, Minnesota, Pittsburgh, Tennessee, and the New York Giants as potential landing spots.
“The Colts probably aren’t ready to fully give up on Anthony Richardson, so renting Rodgers would enable the former first-rounder, who’s still just 22, to learn behind a proven veteran,” wrote Benjamin. “With a solid line, perhaps Rodgers could also get them back in the playoff conversation in an iffy division. Oh, and Pat McAfee would almost certainly have nicer things to say about the team!”
Benjamin wasn’t the only one recently to discuss Rodgers to the Colts either. FOX Sports NFL reporter Eric Williams went as far as predicting that Rodgers would end up in Indianapolis in his 10 bold predictions for the 2025 season:
“Head coach Shane Steichen and GM Chris Ballard are under intense pressure from owner Jim Irsay to win now, which means they must take a big swing to change the trajectory of the franchise,” wrote Williams. “And Ballard has already shown a willingness to bring in veteran QBs in an effort to jump-start the offense, including Philip Rivers, Carson Wentz, Matt Ryan and, most recently, Joe Flacco.”
General manager Chris Ballard did acknowledge after the season that bringing in competition for Anthony Richardson will be on the offseason to-do list.
However, I just do not see a world where that includes Rodgers.
While Ballard wants competition for Richardson, the team hasn’t given up on Richardson by any means. Instead, they want to push him with the hope that the competition helps elevate his play.
That doesn’t happen if Rodgers is on the team. In fact, there is no competition. Rodgers would be the starter and Richardson the backup.
Now, if whoever Richardson is up against this summer beats him out for the starting job, I do believe that the Colts are then willing to make him the backup. But a key ingredient to getting to that point is the competition.
I don’t believe it’s the plan to name Richardson the backup or the starter before training camp even begins–the Colts want to see how things unfold.
In addition to all that, there is the contract component as well. The Colts have a lot of roster holes to fill on this team, and handing out even a somewhat hefty contract at quarterback limits what they can do elsewhere.
The Colts will be in the market for a quarterback this offseason, but it won’t be Rodgers.