Yesterday, we saw free agent quarterback Aaron Rodgers meet with a Steelers contingent that featured general manager Omar Khan, head coach Mike Tomlin, and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. The presence of all of the team’s top personnel was interesting to see as the three missed Michigan’s pro day to meet with the 41-year-old passer. The top brass in Pittsburgh tends to all be in attendance for big pro days, and the Wolverines are stacked with first round talent like defensive tackles Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant, cornerback Will Johnson, and tight end Colston Loveland.
While it may seem like Rodgers leaving without a deal made the meeting unproductive, it appears the meeting wasn’t intended to be about contract negotiations. According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, the Steelers and Rodgers “have had contract parameters in place for weeks.” Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer adds that money discussions are not “expected to get in the way” when it comes to a decision.
The visit was reportedly less about discussions on compensation and more about conversations on fit and Rodgers getting the feel of the Steelers’ leadership and culture. Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the six-hour visit was a positive one, and the two sides will remain in touch, though the decision is ultimately in Rodgers’ hands.
Here are a couple other rumors concerning the teams still looking for quarterback help this offseason:
- With Pittsburgh pushing all their chips in on Rodgers, it’s become apparent that Russell Wilson has been deemed a backup option for the Steelers, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. Wilson is still getting plenty of interest from the Browns and Giants, who despite signing Jameis Winston yesterday, have not been ruled out from signing another veteran passer and/or drafting a rookie quarterback as they begin to rebuild their quarterbacks room from scratch.
- Speaking of pro days, Fowler tells us that the Titans will be sending the calvary to Coral Gables for Miami quarterback Cam Ward‘s pro day this Monday. While there has been a lot of momentum for Ward to go No. 1 overall to Nashville, Fowler says that a determination has not yet been made by the Titans. The team still intends to undergo a very thorough determination process, but so far, through interviews at the NFL scouting combine, Ward has acquitted himself well, showing some mistake recognition and coachability to go along with his natural talent.
- An interesting note from Fowler adds that, in a perfect world, Tennessee would love to be able to trade back and still land Ward, but there’s worry that he wouldn’t still be around after moving back, perfectly illustrating how position need and importance can inflate a player’s draft stock. Regardless, the sense around the league is that Ward has far and away separated himself from the rest of the quarterbacks in this year’s class.
Cavalry*
Sending a calvary to someone’s pro day would be pretty messed up.
Lol, yes it would, Oooof.
Hahaha
Yeah, that had me wondering if the Titans plan was to crucify Cam Ward, and then draft him first overall if he survives after three days. That would be a whole new level of “pre-draft workouts”.
Lazarus!
Thanks, Dangard. That’s the hardest I’ve laughed today.
What’s wrong with sending Jay Cutler’s ex-wife to Michigan’s pro day??
That took me a minute, he might be a little young for Kristin Cavallari though 🙂
The Steelers have given up any leverage they may have had with Aaron Rodgers…any deal is time sensitive and you have to willing to walk away when your getting slow played but unless there is motivation by Rodgers to get a deal done then he is just playing Tomlin, Khan and Smith. It’s not like you’re planning a 4-5 year deal with him and he isn’t going to get you to the Super Bowl anyway.
Sign the deal this weekend or walk away…very simple
Heyward was right…you either want to be a Steeler or you don’t.
Not really. Time isn’t an issue here as they signed Rudolph and their backup option to Rodgers is Wilson who doesn’t seem to be signing anywhere else anytime soon. Steelers won’t give Rodgers forever, but they certainly aren’t rushed.
Or what?
They go with Wilson again? Good luck with that one.
That’s the thing, Rodgers knows he’s the best option left in FA and can slow roll all he wants. He’s just seeing if Minnesota will pull the trigger on him and if not then I bet he chooses Pitt.
Yeah, because Rodgers or Wilson is gonna improve on the 8 or 9 wins Rudolph will give them
Get real
This is not a serious contender and that’s even more so if the genius of Tomlin-Smith keep pushing this 1976 style offense
lol 8 to 9 wins with Rudolph? Bwhahahahahahaha
Haven’t laughed that hard in awhile. He just went 1-4 with Tennessee.
He’s a career backup for a reason.
He played well down the stretch of his final year here
He’s got better weapons now, certainly better than the Titans
And truthfully, I couldn’t care less. If they stink, it’s a higher draft position. And they saved a helluva lot of money. You make it sounds like I’m in the Rudolph fan club
As for the Tians, bwahahahahahaha. I haven’t laughed that hard at a fan in a while. Stick it up your a$$, clown
Clown….lol
Im not the one saying my team is gonna win 9 games with mason at qb.
Im not a titans fan either….not sure where you got that one.
Rudolph got signed by Tennessee because he actually won a few games with the Steelers at the end of 2023 after benching Kenny Pickett. He only won one game as a Titan, but Pittsburgh sees him as a good backup plan in their system. I think Russell Wilson’s five game losing streak reduced him to plan C.
Media here claims Wilson butted heads with Arthur Smith, who runs the offense that Tomlin wants. Apparently, this came after changing numerous plays and torching the Bengals for 44 points
They lost the next 5 straight
If you believe the “ insiders “ talking to media, this was where things went off the tracks between Wilson and the Steelers. Who knows?
Steelers have like 40 mil in cap space and no one to spend it on.
As long as it’s a 1-2 year deal that money is dispensible
If you are desperate enough to need leverage with Rodgers or Wilson then you are less of a pretender than before Pickett. Pittsburgh has become a joke IMO.
if the titans see ward as their franchise qb. they are idiots if you consider trading back for a few picks. take the qb..
Wahgers wants MN, even at a rumored low, low salary.
But, Minny is bringing on the JJMc#9 era
Seems like it. He should, too. Beyond the completion of the Brett Favre career arc, the Vikings have proven that they can win with a veteran QB and indepently have currently the best roster that Rodgers could be considering.
No need to worry Steelers fans…the team’s top personnel are expected to be in full attendance when the Pittsburgh State Gorillas hold their pro day 🙂
This is so sad. What a downfall for a once proud team and city. The front office is so tone deaf it hurts.
It’s not like they need someone to throw for 450 yards and 6 touchdowns a game because they have a helluva defense (#12). Rodgers would probably work out well because they have great receivers. One or two years max and then they can have their pick of Sanders, Richardson, or Williams. Two known busts and one in the making. But maybe Smith can work a miracle with one of them.
I thought Smith getting a job after doing nothing in Atlanta was the miracle.
Don’t miracles come in 3’s like celebrity deaths?
“We want volunteers, not hostages.”
Hostage takers are cool, though.
The Steelers reak of desperation. Sad.
“The presence of all of the team’s top personnel was interesting to see as the three missed Michigan’s pro day to meet with the 41-year-old passer. The top brass in Pittsburgh tends to all be in attendance for big pro days, and the Wolverines are stacked with first round talent like defensive tackles Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant, cornerback Will Johnson, and tight end Colston Loveland.”
This might be a ham fisted smoke screen. I’ve seen Will Johnson mocked to the Steelers in a few drafts. But, their biggest need by far is on the D line. They must get one and should get two.
Im liking Grant if available. He can play in the middle or bounce outside. Then you can always get a pure NT later. Rebuild the dline.
I don’t know the players well enough (at all) to say who they should pick, but this draft is supposedly deep at D line and RB.
So, my draft strategy would be to target those spots (especially since they are needs as well) and get better value and try to reduce the risk of busts.
Targeting needs when the draft is shallow at those positions is how you get Kenny Pickett, Artie Burns, Devin Bush, etc.
I’m ok with this approach by the Steelers. The worst thing you can do in the NFL is pay a non franchise QB big $ long term. Keep wiping the deck clean until you land a good young QB. No matter what they do, none of this will prevent them from drafting a QB.
Omar khan stinks