When quarterback Russell Wilson officially signed with the New York Giants, the Pittsburgh Steelers seemed to be set. Overnight, they went from contenders for Aaron Rodgers to overwhelming favorites for his services.
And then … nothing.
Rodgers is the top veteran quarterback available in free agency, and while alternatives have come off the board, so have potential landing spots, paired off like prom dates during senior year.
On paper, this fit makes sense. Pittsburgh needs a competent passer to maintain its semi-competitive window, and Rodgers presumably wants to end his career on a sweeter note than his New York Jets tenure left it. Money shouldn’t be a massive issue, there’s a mutual respect between him and head coach Mike Tomlin, and the team sweetened the pot by adding receiver DK Metcalf in March. By all accounts, his visit at the facility went well, too.
For some reason – to this point – that hasn’t been enough to put pen to paper, creating speculation to run rampant.
Insider Mike Florio suggested on his podcast that Rodgers “doesn’t really want” to sign with the Steelers, pushing off his decision before getting hitched one last time before retirement.
“I had somebody suggest to me yesterday, and I’m just sharing what I heard, what this person’s opinion is,” Florio said (transcribed by Steeler Nation). “It’s not a fact. It’s not a report. But it’s someone who is in the ecosystem and isn’t a low-level employee. This is a high-level person with one of the teams. The opinion is he doesn’t really want to play for the Steelers, and he’s waiting for Minnesota.”
The Vikings, as Florio notes, remain a potential option; but will they really figure into the conversation? Sure, with Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, they boast a better receiving corps. Head coach Kevin O’Connell just won Coach of the Year and defensive coordinator Brian Flores might lead a better defense.
But Minnesota has to want Rodgers, who stipulated needing to feel wanted when pursuing his next destination. The only indication that the Vikings are even considering the move is that Brett Rypien is the lone backup quarterback and he isn’t well-regarded.
If quarterback J.J. McCarthy isn’t fully healthy, it makes sense to add another bridge quarterback. No such reporting has taken place. If the plan was to sit him for two years, he wouldn’t have been the favorite to start in 2024, and they probably wouldn’t have traded up for him in the first place. This team, by its actions, has shown to trust McCarthy.
At some point, Rodgers may have to swallow that pill and turn to his two most realistic options: the Steelers or retirement.
