Aaron Rodgers might get a chance to bypᴀss the Giants’ rebuild and follow Brett Favre’s exact path into the Hall of Fame.

As Monday’s start of the legal tampering period in NFL free agency nears, Rodgers has emerged as a “dark horse” option for the Vikings now that Sam Darnold is unlikely to re-sign in Minnesota, NFL Network reported.

In a case of mutual desperation making strange bedfellows, there is interest between the Giants and Rodgers about striking a free-agent deal.

But the Vikings pose an unexpected threat to the union that would allow Rodgers to go from the Packers to the Jets to the Vikings — just like his former teammate Favre did nearly two decades ago.

But that’s not even the ultimate irony in a quarterback carousel with possibilities suddenly spinning out of control.

Consider that Rodgers’ landing spot could be influenced by Daniel Jones’ free-agent decision.

Yes, who plays quarterback for the Giants in 2025 — Rodgers or someone — somehow could be tied back to Jones, their draft bust who still is on the salary cap for a $22.2 million ᴅᴇᴀᴅ charge after he was cut last November.

If Jones — who finished last season with the Vikings but never appeared in a game — re-signs in Minnesota, he can serve as their insurance policy for J.J. McCarthy as the 2024 first-round draft pick recovers from two knee surgeries that caused him to miss his rookie season. 

But if Jones follows Darnold out of town and the Vikings need an alternative to McCarthy, enter Rodgers and a wrinkle in the Giants’ Plan B after the Matthew Stafford trade never materialized.

The possibility that Jones still could impact the Giants’ quarterback future is even more outlandish than this plausible scenario: One of two former Jets quarterbacks (Rodgers or Darnold) likely will replace another former Jets quarterback (Geno Smith) with the Seahawks because Smith was traded Friday to the Raiders for a third-round draft pick that originally belonged to the Jets (and was dealt away for Davante Adams).

Is your head spinning? Let’s try to simplify the carousel.

Sam Darnold

The free agent expected to secure the largest contract could be the big winner of the Smith trade to the Raiders.

It opened up the Seahawks in musical chairs. 

Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak was the 49ers pᴀssing game coordinator in 2023, when Darnold was Brock Purdy’s backup.

Kubiak runs a similar offensive scheme to the one that Darnold just had a Pro Bowl season operating with the Vikings.

The тιтans, who are considering pᴀssing on a quarterback with the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, also could make a large offer to Darnold.

Aaron Rodgers

Joining a 3-14 team like the Giants isn’t ideal for a 41-year-old quarterback who wants to rewrite a happier ending than he had with the 5-12 Jets. 

Joining the 14-3 Vikings — and sticking it to the rival Packers? — is a better fit, though he would have to fend off a healthy McCarthy. 

Don’t rule out the Steelers if they lose both of their in-house options.

Russell Wilson

The nine-time Pro Bowler flirted with the Giants in 2024 before signing with the Steelers.

Could those same teams be his two best options again? 

Considering the way that his three post-Seattle seasons have gone, Wilson might not be able to find a guaranteed starting job. 

Is he willing to compete to start?

Or be a placeholder mentor to a rookie?

If so, the Colts and тιтans enter the mix.

Justin Fields

What does it say if the Steelers re-sign Fields but not Wilson?

That they played the wrong quarterback last season, after benching Fields (4-2 start) when Wilson got healthy?

That they are pursuing the wrong guy this year? 

The Jets are thought to be a strong suitor to poach Fields as they look to create compeтιтion for veteran journeyman Tyrod Taylor.

Daniel Jones

The best two big-game performances of Jones’ six years with the Giants were against the Colts and Vikings in 2022.

Now, those are his two best options. 

He has a jumpstart on the Vikings’ playbook, but a clearer path to start with the Colts by beating out erratic youngster Anthony Richardson.

Kirk Cousins

Is he stuck with the Falcons as a backup?

He reportedly had a meeting with ownership where he expressed a desire to start somewhere else. 

The buzz in league circles is that Cousins (who has a no-trade clause) would want to join a team with playoff-caliber pieces in place.

The most logical spot is the Browns, who are coached by his former Vikings offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski. 

The Browns are squarely in the mix to draft Cam Ward with the No. 2 pick, however, which would inject Cousins back into the uncomfortable dynamic he currently shares with Michael Penix Jr.

Jacoby Brissett, Jameis Winston, Gardner Minshew and Jimmy Garoppolo

All looking for spots.