Story perspectives

Cardinals Decline to Pursue Free-Agent Aaron Rodgers

5/6/2026

Summary

Story summary

Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur said the team is not pursuing free-agent Aaron Rodgers.
Steelers placed a right-of-first-refusal tender on Rodgers on April 28, allowing a 10 % raise to about $15 million.
Arizona’s quarterback room—Jacoby Brissett, Gardner Minshew, rookie Carson Beck and Kedon Slovis—leaves little room for another veteran.
NFL insiders Ian Rapoport and Josh Weinfuss said there is no substantive Cardinals interest in signing Rodgers.

History

Historical Context

Tom Brady’s succession of high-value contracts since the 2000s has repeatedly reset quarterback salary expectations. In 2019 he was the Patriots’ highest-paid player at $21.5 million, a figure that eclipsed prior league norms. His 2022 Fox deal worth $375 million over ten years illustrates that benchmark, prompting coaches like Mike LaFleur and executives such as Kevin Colbert to resist similar raises for Aaron Rodgers.

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Story summary

Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur said the team is not pursuing free-agent Aaron Rodgers.
Steelers placed a right-of-first-refusal tender on Rodgers on April 28, allowing a 10 % raise to about $15 million.
Arizona’s quarterback room—Jacoby Brissett, Gardner Minshew, rookie Carson Beck and Kedon Slovis—leaves little room for another veteran.
NFL insiders Ian Rapoport and Josh Weinfuss said there is no substantive Cardinals interest in signing Rodgers.

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