The wait continues for Aaron Rodgers to make an official commitment to playing in 2025. Provided he does so, a deal sending him to the Steelers for at least one season remains the expectation around the league. 
Rodgers has plenty of time to sign ahead of training camp (or in advance of next month’s mandatory minicamp), but before that takes place Pittsburgh’s quarterback situation carries uncertainty. One other option is still attainable this deep into the offseason, and the team is continuing to monitor that situation. The Steelers still have Kirk Cousins on their radar, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported on a Sunday SportsCenter appearance (h/t Bleacher Report’s Adam Wells).
The Falcons have been open to trading Cousins for much of the offseason despite their stated willingness to keep him in place as an expensive Michael Penix Jr. backup. The four-time Pro Bowler’s preference would be a fresh start after only one year in Atlanta, but his contract represents an impediment to a trade taking place. $37.5MM in guaranteed money is owed over the course of the 2025 and ’26 seasons, and the Falcons are uninterested in retaining a large potion of that amount to facilitate a deal.
Early last month, Atlanta was reportedly asking suitors to absorb at least $20MM of Cousins’ 2025 salary for a trade to take place. To no surprise, that stance did not generate offers, although a list of interested teams remained in place just before the draft took place. The Steelers were among them, and they find themselves as the only team whose presumed starting quarterback is not already on the roster at this point.
Per Fowler’s report, a Cousins trade would have already taken place by now if the Falcons had been willing to absorb a portion (such as $7MM or $8MM) of his $27.5MM base salary for the coming season. They are clearly not prepared to do so, and that position is unlikely to change any time soon. The Browns and Vikings added to their QB depth charts during the draft (through the selection of rookies in one case, and a trade in the other). The Saints, meanwhile, are not aiming to make an outside addition in the wake of Derek Carr‘s retirement.
As a result, Pittsburgh will continue to be a team to monitor on the Cousins front. The 36-year-old is under contract through 2027 (although the Steelers could move on from him prior to that point), and he could be seen as a multi-year investment under center. Rodgers, by contrast, will likely represent a one-and-done addition presuming a contract agreement is eventually reached. Until and unless that happens, though, the Steelers will no doubt continue to keep tabs on Cousins’ availability.
This “rumour” is simply intended to light a fire under Aaron Rodgers’ butt to get his signature on paper and end this long, drawn out negotiation.
However, if it’s true, it’d be poetic to see Rodgers scrambling last minute for a team.
Whatever happened Tomlin’s statement saying “We don’t want hostages, we want volunteers”?
In response to Tomlin’s statement saying “We don’t want hostages, we want volunteers” you think they should, what, badger and pressure Rodgers until he signs?
No. Go a different route and stop waiting for him.
What route?
That was about players currently under contract.
The math doesn’t add up. The article says no team was willing to take on 20 mil but later says a trade would happen if Atlanta absorbed 7-8 mil which leaves a base of 20. Sounds like Atlanta needs to absorb more than 7-8. Frankly, 20 mil for a veteran starting QB in 2025 isn’t that much.
My thoughts exactly, why are they constantly reporting no one willing to take on a $20-$25 million contract for a starting QB? That’s the going rate and not even that much these days. Unless there’s more to it, i.e. the Falcons are asking teams to take on the majority of his contract, who knows…..Cousins to the Steelers seems like a good match on paper.
Genuinely don’t understand that either.
Had Cousins continued along his trajectory that he started the season on, he’d have put up his usual impressive numbers.
Hard to believe a team wouldn’t pony up $20 million per year for a guy who can be penciled in for 30+ TDs and near 4,000 passing yards.
Did you watch him the last month he played? He couldn’t continue on his trajectory, which is why they mercilessly had to bench him. Morris tried everything to prevent having to do it, but Cousins gave him no choice. His body was falling apart. Achilles tears end careers at that age.
But… the alternative is to sign an older dude who had that same injury?
However, $27m is WAY over the going rate for a Backup QB.
So despite what they say…I think the Falcons really want to get him off the book. The Steelers likely know this too. Assuming the Steelers cannot get Rodgers for a reasonable price…..Cousins to the Steelers just makes too much sense for both the Falcons and the Steelers. This is an interesting 3-way game of chicken between Rodgers, Steelers, and Falcons…
I’m not sure there is a landing spot for BOTH Rodgers and Cousins.
Interestingly, the $10M in additional guarantee money wasn’t addressed. Kid of hard to ignore that in a deal.
Russ can make 20 plus with incentives with giants this year. That’s candy money for nfl world. Even fields coming off a backup year was handed 20 mill in New York. Something isn’t adding up here
Agreed. The way it’s written doesn’t seem to make much sense with the math.
I also felt like $20M for Kirk Cousins as your starting QB is a pretty reasonable price. If the article is accurate, it makes me wonder what would the Steelers (or any other team) feel he’s valued at as a starting QB.
To put him as same value range as Russ isn’t crazy but cousins contract language has more backend than Russ does. Would Steelers be ok with Rudolph and Howard if Rodgers goes ghost or would they bite a 20M-ish contract and expect playoff wins and meaningful ball from cousins for an overblown one year party deal? Hmmm
Not just a veteran but an above average veteran.
Not sure why a professional football team is allowing themselves to be held “hostage” by a formerly great player.
He was pretty good last year so I’d say it’s a lot less formerly than you’re making it out to be.
Even if you are correct, you don’t put organization on hold for this guy.
Rodgers was a 90 rating. I dont think that qualifies as pretty good.
Uhh yeah it really does.
Rogers’ 90.5 rating was exactly average (Rate+ = 100) for the 2024 season.
Rodgers played solid ball last year with a trash front office and interim coach. If I’m trying to save my job and win games I’m taking Rodgers over Rudolph right now
@sentinelATl. McAfee was blasting a reporter saying Rodgers was going to sign last week, and he said not going to happen. Said it will be much later til he decides. I’m guessing it’s already worked out. That’s why he was throwing to Metcalf. He’s probably throwing privately to the rest of the guys.
@rex—i agree it’s already written in stone if not in ink. This massive media hate for Rodgers is mindblowing. You would think he’s the second coming of Dahmer
What exactly do you want them to do? They’re going about their offseason either way. Pittsburgh clearly didn’t believe that their QB of the future was in this last draft, and they weren’t going to commit the Kenny Pickett mistake again of forcing the pick. If Rodgers signs, he signs. If Cousins becomes available at a reasonable price, he hey’ll take him (and hope he’s healthy and effective). Either way, either of those guys only really have a chance of starting a maximum of maybe two years for the Steelers, because Pittsburgh’s looking to next year for their quarterback of the future.
Unless Rodgers or Cousins really lights up the league and earns a mentor year with that rookie, they’ll be done after this year and Pittsburgh will move on to a young player. The Steelers made an offer, and haven’t moved off it; I’d say that’s not budging rather than being desperate. Cousins should be cheap, except for the cost of acquisition, and Rodgers will be cheaper. And, if Pittsburgh gets neither of them, they’ll still be looking to next year. The consternation seems to be more on the part of the fans than the team at this point, but most of those fans wanted the Steelers to quit trying to win and tank for a pick anyway.
You say no and move on and fans don’t run the team.
The Cleveland/Pitt series is going to be a rock fight this year.
We can usually take that for granite…oops! sorry! 🙂
So many 2 yard runs incoming
But enough about the tush push.
Now who really thinks Omar Kahn and Mike Tomlin are driving this situation? Rooney spoke on it again the other day. Why do you think the owner is talking about Rodgers coming there if not for he’s heavily involved in who is going to be their QB next year. Wake up and smell the coffee. This is why the Steelers have the problems they have. Rooney is too involved but doesn’t get the backlash the owners everyone knows is too involved gets.
Makes sense. I don’t see Tomlin fanboying for Rodgers. Then again, what do I know?
Definitely not. I thought he pushed for that clean sweep in the room last year, and he got it. But Rooney has his fingerprints all over this after Fields walked in FA, and I’d say the attempt to hole on to him was lukewarm and this was always Rooneys intention to get Rodgers. Like what QB comes to sit down and just talk to the coaches for a day and then leaves with the decision still to be made months later? We all know that’s never happened before, and we all know why.
@blacksundayz. Tomlin is a regular on the McAfee show, and hawk is in rodgers inner circle. So pat dismissed reports that Aaron was signing last week, and said not happening going to be much later. I think the deal is done and he’s working with the wide receivers privately.
Ugh, no. No QB trade. No signing Rodgers. We go with what we have and pick a franchise QB next draft, even if we have to trade up. Stick to the plan.
All that sounds good on paper, but you know it’s not going to happen that way. Also, I’m still lost on all of these top guys in the 2026 draft.
I imagine if Johnny Unitas were still alive there would eventually be an article stating the Steelers regret cutting him and have an interest in bringing him back for a tryout. Can someone please pull the plug on the drama milking machine in Pittsburgh?
The Steelers need to walk away from the whole Rodgers drama and move on. Trading for Cousins is risky as he played poorly last year and got beat out by a Rookie plus he does have a no trade clause and his wife is from Georgia…. given that, the Steelers just need to go with the 3 QB’S they already have and let Rodgers twist in the wind …
The plot thickens. Again?
I think they want Rodgers signed by the end of this week, and the Cousins rumors are a sign that they will turn to him if June gets here & they still don’t have a starting quarterback. The price difference is likely part of the reasoning for the Steelers patience. Going from $10 million for Rodgers to $20 million for Cousins could make a difference in trading for a game changer in October after a season ending injury somewhere else.
Yeah, I fully Pittsburgh to be monitoring the trade block this year. Chances are they’ll be looking for a longer term piece, which would involve an extension of some kind, so cap room will be important. Even if it’s a veteran, cap room is still important.
The other hand is that, of course, they just gave up capital for Metcalf in a similar style trade, so it could go the other way. In any case, that cap space will be important.
If you could get Rodgers or Cousins for the same salary for the forthcoming season, who would you sign?
Maybe a slight edge to Rodgers, but also a coin toss would work.
History will forget…the Steelers’ first choice was Justin Fields.
They were just too cheap to land him.
Now, they have to decide which lousy Plan B to go with…
Sitting on your hands waiting for a self important dovchebag living on his glory days is not a good look