2:35pm: Rodgers has slow-rolled his free agency decision on the advice of his agent, David Dunn, per Pro Football Network’s Mike Florio. The Steelers offered him a contract close to the beginning of free agency, but they have yet to improve the terms of the deal to entice him to sign. Rodgers also met with offensive coordinator Arthur Smith during his visit, per the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac, but left the team’s facility without a deal.
Rodgers has been trying to wait Pittsburgh out in pursuit of a better contract, but he has seen his interest from other teams wane. He does not have any other visits scheduled, per The Athletic’s Jeff Howe, which may cause the Steelers to stand firm with their initial offer instead of bidding against themselves.
12:34pm: The Aaron Rodgers watch continues, and Friday has seen what could prove to be a notable development. The league’s top remaining free agent quarterback is currently visiting the Steelers’ facility, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
The Steelers have long been known as one of the top Rodgers suitors, with discussions picking up around the time of Justin Fields working out a deal with the Jets. Retaining Fields was Pittsburgh’s preference, but his departure leaves the team in need of a veteran passer (which may or may not be 2024 starter Russell Wilson). Mason Rudolph is back in the organization, but his signing has not slowed down Rodgers-Steelers connections.
The Vikings represented the top name to watch on this front until recently. Minnesota has not submitted an offer to Rodgers at this point, and one is not expected as things stand. Pittsburgh, on the other hand, is among the suitors which has made an offer. Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports it still stands, adding Rodgers met with the Steelers’ coaches today. A deal could be worked out in short order as a result. General manager Omar Khan also took part in today’s summit, per Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer.
Since Ben Roethlisberger‘s retirement, Pittsburgh has been unable to find a long-term solution under center. Rodgers would not meet that criteria at the age of 41, but the four-time MVP could provide starting-caliber play on a short-term basis for Pittsburgh or any number of teams. Wilson’s time in the organization went well at first, but at the end of the campaign his play (and that of the offense in general) fell short of expectations.
Owner Art Rooney II made it clear after the Steelers’ wild-card loss that keeping Wilson and Fields in place again in 2025 would be unlikely. The latter quickly secured $30MM guaranteed from the Jets, the team which elected to move on from Rodgers under its new regime of Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey. That decision did not come as a surprise, but it has not stopped the longtime Packer from generating a notable market. With preliminary Steelers talks not producing an agreement, the Giants have made an offer of their own (one which is believed to be stronger than Pittsburgh’s).
Wilson is ready to sign a deal for 2025, whether it is with Pittsburgh, New York, Cleveland or another suitor. His future will not be clear until the Rodgers domino falls, however. Joe Flacco is another veteran to watch in the case of the Steelers (and other teams still in need of a passer at this stage of free agency). Pittsburgh could begin the next phase of the QB carousel shortly with a Rodgers arrangement.
And it just keeps getting funnier to me every time I read it!
It’d be funnier if this devolves to a point that Cousins is coming in for a visit
He can’t, He’s under contract.
Read the latest threads, Mike
Seems like Atlanta is playing poker.
(And I did not mean a visit as a prospective free agent)
I’m not a Steelers fan but I respect the organization and Mike Tomlin – man, I hope they don’t do this. I REALLY don’t want Tomlin to lose his streak by bringing in and relying on Rodgers.
If they want to bring him in to back up Rudolph, that’s fine, but I doubt Rodgers will go for that.
I don’t understand the fascination with wanting Mason Rudolph to start. He’s not very good and turns the ball over pretty regularly. I’m not Rodgers fan at all, and with those speedy receivers I think they should just go for Danger Russ and his superior arm strength. But calling for Rudolph over Rodgers is wild to me.
They can’t keep this revolving door of QBs going forever. Here’s a franchise that missed twice on replacements for Roethlisberger. The first was Rudolph, not a franchise QB. The second is what’s killing them now, the Pickett fiasco
No, Rudolph isn’t a franchise QB but there are two points here. One, he’s a helluva lot cheaper…and this team has other holes. Two, it necessitates them looking to draft a QB, something they should be doing until they get it right
Whether it’s Rodgers, Wilson or Rudolph, it’s hard to see them winning more than 8-10 games. Why spend the money on guys like this ?
Could be worse, they could’ve traded up for Bryce Young or Anthony Richardson
Pickett didn’t hurt the org much. He was a luxory pick at 20 , decent chance they would’ve moved back and taken George Pickens anyways (barely got him r2)
Only issue with Kenny Pickett was he won too many games and Steelers didn’t get a high pick
Anytime you draft a quarterback in the middle of the 1st round and he starts as a rookie and you get rid of him 18 months later for a Day 3 pick, it hurts the organization big
Why? Because the FO feels that Aaron Rodgers provides the Steelers with a better opportunity to win games than Wilson or Rudolph.
Rudolph did not sign for $4m/year to start — he signed that to be QB2. If Sanders/Dart/Howard/Milroe is who the Steelers feel good enough to draft…he sits behind Rodgers and Rudolph.
And Schough is better than all the guys you listed.
Yeah. The FO is delusional if it thinks this guy will take them to the promised land. But they were delusional when they drafted Pickett, too
This isn’t a contender with a QB2 OR with any of the has-been out there
Mason probably has the strongest arm of the 3 at this point
Rodgers most capable of winning a playoff game
Russ most capable of holding onto the ball too long
Russ could probably throw further than Rudolph with his left arm. And after years of the Big Ben experience, Steelers fans are more than comfortable with their QB holding the ball way too long. Rudolph couldn’t beat Will Levis out in camp last year… think about that. Rodgers and Russ are HoF, Super Bowl winning QBs and you would rather give the reigns to a playoff team to the guy who looked worse than Will Levis.
Russ does not have the arm strength they need. He under threw receivers deep often last year.
You know it’s been on my mind
Could you stand right there
Look me straight in the eye
And say that it’s over now?
We pay our debt sometime
Yeah, we pay our debt sometime
“If they want to bring him in to back up Rudolph”
lmao. Are you serious? You think the Steelers would bring in Aaron Rodgers to back up Mason Rudolph? The guy who couldn’t even hack it last year on the literal worst team in the league? And you think Rudolph gives them a better chance to win? What planet are you Rudolph fans on? His *ceiling* is a solid back-up QB. Rodgers, for all of his troubles, is a *far* superior QB to Rudolph. Craaaazy.
Heyward already seems sick of the Rodgers circus. Deep balls to Metcalf and Pickens could be fun, but Rodgers hates when receivers aren’t exactly in tune with where he wants them to be, which makes that seem like a very combustible fit.
I think Rodgers can still be a top 20 quarterback in football right now, but I see more downside than upside to any team with a current quarterback need inviting him to be their main character this year.
@oooof. Thanks for pointing that out. Rodgers pays attention to detail, and doesn’t pivot. He blamed Williams because he was throwing balls at his cleats and he’s a jump ball reciever. Also he doesn’t have speed to adjust like he did. Kinda like russ short but can’t scramble around anymore. Rodgers isn’t short just not mobile anymore. He missing the extra two seconds to throw.
He also hates play action and pre-snap motion, two good tools for getting open looks.
Great points. Rodgers and Pickens especially would be fireworks every week.
Pickens and Pickens is bad enough.
Dam it.
Another entilted athlete. Steelers show some nads and go elsewhere.
Finally lol
He is visiting them like a little kid that does not want to go to his grandparents. Ok I will go but I won’t have fun. Oh wait you want to give me a bunch of money (and his only real option)? Ok i guess I will let you.
Well the sun is shining here today. Maybe they can stop for some ice cream at Page’s later on.
If Rodgers does join the Steelers, it could lead to some fascinating drama. Rodgers, HC Tomlin, OC Art Smith, free spirited WR Metcalf and undisciplined, possible head case WR Pickens. Not to mention the need to win and excel in a tough division.
Sounds like the recipe for an AFC championship loss.
Making it to the AFC championship? That would be an accomplishment. I suppose anything is possible. I was going with keeping the Tomlin non losing season streak in tact at best. The Steelers 2025 schedule looks pretty tough, at least at face value. In addition to the division games, they have Buffalo, Detroit, Minnesota, Green Bay. Seattle and the LA Chargers can also be tough games.
If the Steelers sign Rodgers, it’s clear they’ve convinced themselves they can win following one VERY specific model…
The 2015 Broncos.
HOF QB on his last legs, strong defense, a pair of great WR and a power running game.
Very good comparison. They need to draft another rb to go with Warren and Gainwell imo.
Do they really have a power running game? I admit I am have not watched every game but the ones I did see they did not run that well. I see They were upper end of the middle of the pack outside the top ten running (127/game) . But when you look at the per game the high rusher was under 75 yards 14 out of 18 games including the playoffs. am sleeping on Warren?
I said they convinced themselves. I did not say they were right.
Hard for you to say what they have convinced themselves of when you are not in the building but ok.
No, it’s not. Anyone can know that by following their actions.
They traded for DK Metcalf and gave him big money. This tells you that they think they can win now. Keeping Watt and the stars on D tells you the same. Attempting to get veteran QBs also tells you they think they can win with current roster.
So, given that they think they can win and by virtue of the fact that they are trying (through the signing of Rodgers, the trade for Metcalf, the elevation of Warren, etc.) to build a roster reminiscent of the 2015 Broncos tells you that they have convinced themselves they can win with that formula.
Are they right? I’d bet good money they are not, but…this is clearly what they are trying to do.
Where’s the strong defense? They get toasted anytime they play a real QB.
Haha. Steelers aren’t winning a Super Bowl with Rodgers
Tell him to sign before he leaves the building or don’t bother coming back. He’s a 41 yr old with a qb rating of 40 last season. He’s no longer anything special.
He played well down the stretch. The issue is the Steelers have an awful O-line and Rodgers like to hold the ball and take sacks so he has no chance of throwing a pick. If the Steelers O-line can give him enough time to throw, he’s definitely worth is for one year while some QB they take in the third has time to develop. Russ has already worn out his welcome in Pittsburgh otherwise they would have re-signed him. Especially with D.K. in the fold now.
His slow roll is equal to him not being satisfied.
If he really wanted to play for the Steelers he would have signed today.
IMO today’s visit was a way to get leverage and perhaps expedite other teams improving offers or jumping into the game.
“they have yet to improve the terms of the deal to entice him to sign”.
Omar Khan: “We’re offering a 41 year old, immobile QB, an opportunity to get behind an OL that ranked 29th in pass protection last season…that should be plenty of enticement”.
Omar khans a loser
I would think Winston would be a better choice as a stop gap QB. We know he can still fling the ball 60+ yards and the Steelers have the receivers to go get the ball. The Bengals ( not comparing wide receivers) lived pretty good on the long ball during Joe’s first few years in the league. They may not win but they would be entertaining.
Please tell me you are not comparing Joe to Jameison. Yeah he can sling the ball but unfortunately he slings it to the wrong side far too many times.
Why is it people read into a comment something that was NEVER said. Sit down, read the comment, and then after you have had time to digest what was said, then make an intelligent comment. Was there any comparison of Joe Burrow and James Winston in my statement? I said, the Bengals lived pretty good on the LONG BALL in Joe’s first few years in the league. And that Jameis can still throw the ball 60+ yards consistently. There was no comparison of the two. Are you insinuating that after 45+ years of playing football and coaching I would be ignorant enough to say Jamie’s Winston’s name should be uttered in same sentence with Joe Burrow? Jameis can run and he has a cannon for an arm but in terms of football decision making, throwing with touch, and the ability to get players to play way over their skill level Joe is the king. All that was said say this. The Steelers could do worse than Jameis Winston because he would be quite entertaining with receiving corps they have. That was what I said.
Aaron Rodgers? No..No…No!
Baffled by the Metcalf signing. I’m pretty sure I recall reading somewhere he was looking for a warm weather climate team with QB stability. The heck.