At one point this offseason, it looked like the Pittsburgh Steelers wouldn’t have any interest in quarterback Aaron Rodgers, but a lot has changed since then and now it appears that the two sides joining forces is inevitable.
Early Monday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Rodgers was indeed a legitimate option for the Steelers’ quarterback vacancy after previous reports suggested Pittsburgh didn’t want to go that route.Now, not only is Rodgers a possible option for the Steelers, he appears to be the most likely option.
According to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, Rodgers and the Steelers could have a deal in place as soon as Tuesday. Florio adds that Rodgers prefers the Steelers to his other top suitor, the New York Giants, because of the fact that he wants to play two more years and realizes that might not happen in New York with head coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen both on the hot seat.Per a source with knowledge of the situation, the Steelers and Rodgers could have an agreement in place as soon as Tuesday. He won’t be able to sign until Wednesday, when the Jets release him.
There’s still a chance the Giants could pilfer Rodgers. If they make him a much richer offer, he might jump on the chance to stay in New York.
One big factor comes from Rodgers’s desire to play two more years. If he picks the Giants, and if the Giants fail to make it to the playoffs in 2025, co-owner John Mara could clean house in 2026. A new G.M. and a new head coach could result in the same decision the other New York team made this year — a decision to move on from Rodgers.
The Steelers’ interest in Rodgers in certainly understandable given their desire to compete rather than blowing it up in 2025. Some may not agree, but even at this stage in his career, we’d put money on Rodgers being an upgrade over last year’s quarterbacks, Justin Fields and Russell Wilson.
Speaking of Wilson, his situation might be in limbo because of Rodgers. Wilson has been linked to the Giants in rumors and is likely their fallback option if the future Hall of Famer goes to Pittsburgh.
