Pittsburgh Steelers News & Rumors

Steelers Re-Sign T Calvin Anderson

April 7th, 2025 at 3:55pm CST by Adam La Rose

Calvin Anderson debuted with the Steelers in 2024, and he will remain in the fold moving forward. The veteran offensive tackle re-signed with Pittsburgh on a two-year deal Monday, per a team announcement.

Anderson began his career with the Broncos, spending three seasons in Denver. During that stretch, he made 41 appearances and 12 starts. The former undrafted free agent was with the Patriots in 2023, though he was limited to just five games played. As a result, it came as little surprise a lengthy wait in free agency ensued last offseason.

Anderson remained on the open market past the start of the 2025 campaign. After the Steelers saw first-round rookie Troy Fautanu go down with a knee injury (one which led to an IR stint and limited him to just one game), though, depth was needed. That led to an Anderson agreement being worked out in September, and the 29-year-old played in four games shortly upon arrival.

Anderson was placed on injured reserve not long after, however, and he remained unavailable for the rest of the regular season. The Rice and Texas product was activated in time for the playoffs, and he played in the Steelers’ wild-card loss. None of his five total appearances included starting duties, but Anderson clearly made a strong enough impression with Pittsburgh’s staff to remain in place for 2025 and ’26.

The offensive tackle position has been a point of emphasis for the Steelers in recent years. The team used a first-round pick on Broderick Jones in 2023, then added Fautanu during Day 1 last spring. Especially with veteran Dan Moore Jr. no longer in the picture (after he took a lucrative Titans deal in free agency), Jones is in position to move from right to left tackle next season. That will leave Fautanu to occupy the RT spot in the starting lineup, but Anderson will be an option to fill in if required.

Omar Khan: Steelers Hopeful T.J. Watt Finishes Career In Pittsburgh

April 7th, 2025 at 9:02am CST by Adam La Rose

One year remains on T.J. Watt‘s contract, and he could be the next high-profile edge rusher in the NFL to secure a notable payday. An extension is known to be on the Steelers’ to-do list, and further signs are pointing to one being worked out.

When speaking to the media about Watt’s situation and the shifting financial landscape for edge rushers, general manager Omar Khan replied, “I’ll just say that I’m very hopeful that T.J. will finish his career as a Steeler” (h/t team reporter Dave Lolley). Pittsburgh has seen Maxx Crosby (Raiders) and, shortly thereafter, Myles Garrett (Browns) reset the position’s market this offseason. The latter is now attached to an AAV of $40MM.

Watt’s current deal – his 2021 extension – is worth just over $28MM on average. The former Defensive Player of the Year is in line for a raise based on the continued upward movement of the cap, although it remains to be seen what the terms of a third Steelers contract will look like. Watt has previously indicated his desire to remain in Pittsburgh past the coming campaign, so a mutual interest between team and player should help yield progress at the negotiating table.

Stating an extension for the seven-time Pro Bowler is “just a matter of when and how much,” Mark Kaboly of The Pat McAfee Show predicts Watt will agree to a pact in the range of three years and $105MM in new money. He adds it is unlikely an extension will move the 30-year-old back to the top of the position’s pecking order, but a renewed commitment will of course represent a major cap commitment for Pittsburgh. Watt has logged a full season each of the past two years, totaling 30.5 sacks and 10 forced fumbles during that stretch. While age will be a consideration in his case, expectations will be high once a new pact is in hand.

The Steelers already have Alex Highsmith on the books for another three years (although none of his scheduled base salaries over that stretch are guaranteed). The former third-rounder has proven to be an effective complementary option to Watt, recording at least six sacks each year since becoming a full-time starter. Highsmith’s scheduled cap hits range from $18.6MM to $21.1MM, though, so keeping Watt in the fold on a more lucrative deal will bring about financial challenges for Pittsburgh.

Watt is currently scheduled to collect $21.05MM next season with a cap hit of $30.42MM. An extension could lower the latter figure while meeting the team’s goal of keeping him in the fold for the foreseeable future. No timeline is in place for an agreement to be worked out, but doing so before the likes of Micah Parsons, Trey Hendrickson and Aidan Hutchinson have new deals with their respective teams would likely allow for a lower price tag.

2025 NFL Draft Visits: Schwesinger, Cowboys, Nolen, Ezeiruaku, Burden, Turner, Bond, Steelers, Emmanwori

April 6th, 2025 at 10:14pm CST by Ely Allen

This isn’t exactly a visit in the sense of top-30 visits, like most of the rest of bullets that follow this will be, but UCLA linebacker Carson Schwesinger held a private pro day earlier this week in Los Angeles and had 30 teams in attendance, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

While, obviously, not a comprehensive list, Schefter specifically mentions the Cowboys, Giants, Saints, Chargers, and Broncos, and notes that the linebackers coaches from Dallas, New York, and New Orleans all met privately with Schwesinger.

Schwesinger is not currently the top-ranked linebacker prospect in most analysts’ eyes, but he often slides in as the second-best off-ball linebacker in the class behind Alabama’s Jihaad Campbell — third if you count Georgia defender Jalon Walker, who has the ability to play every linebacker spot at the next level. Some thought Schwesinger may sneak into the back end of the first round at the end of the month, but more likely is that he hears his name on Day 2. Per Tony Pauline of sportskeeda, it would be surprising to see him fall past the first half of the second round.

Here are some more prospect-NFL team connections we’ve seen recent reports on:

The Cowboys have certainly been very busy in the runup to the 2025 NFL Draft. On Friday, the team held their invite-only “Dallas Day,” hosting draft prospects without the visits counting towards their top-30 visits. According to Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports, North Carolina running back Omarion Hampton met with the team at “Dallas Day.” The well-balanced rusher continues to skyrocket up draft boards, is likely to join Ashton Jeanty in the first round, and has several other visits lined up.
Jeanty was also in attendance on Friday, per ESPN’s Todd Archer. We had relayed that Jeanty would be taking a top-30 visit with the Cowboys, but it’s unclear whether this is what was meant in that original report. Also in attendance for “Dallas Day” were Texas A&M defensive tackle Shemar Turner, Oklahoma State running back Ollie Gordon, TCU wide receivers Savion Williams and Jack Bech, Texas quarterback and offensive lineman Quinn Ewers and Cameron Williams, and Miami tight end and running back Elijah Arroyo and Damien Martinez.
Also in attendance at “Dallas Day” was Ole Miss defensive tackle Walter Nolen. Per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2, Nolen will follow up his Dallas visit with a visit with the Panthers on Monday and a visit with the Bengals some other time this week.
Joining Nolen in Carolina on Monday will be Boston College pass rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku, per Joe Person of The Athletic. The ACC Defensive Player of the Year has been a hot topic with multiple scouts of late, per ESPN’s Jordan Reid. He’s currently viewed as an early-Day 2 prospect, and his stock continues to rise.
Speaking of another “Dallas Day” athlete, Wilson of KPRC 2 provided an updated list of teams that Turner, from Texas A&M, is set to visit with. We already noted his recent visit in New Orleans, but Wilson tells us that Turner has also visited the Texans and plans to visit the Ravens, Rams, Eagles, Dolphins, Colts, Buccaneers, and Cardinals.
According to Mike Klis of 9NEWS, the Broncos hosted Missouri wide receiver Luther Burden for a top-30 visit last week. The talented wideout fell off in 2024 after an incredible sophomore campaign with the Tigers, but his high ceiling makes him a borderline first-round prospect. Denver would love to bring in another talented weapon for young quarterback Bo Nix.
We already reported recent visits for Texas wide receiver Isaiah Bond in Atlanta, Chicago, Green Bay, and Los Angeles, but we now have a couple sources adding some new locations for the Longhorn. Wilson of KPRC 2 tells us that Bond had dinner with the Bills before a private workout Friday and a top-30 visit as well as visits with the Browns and Packers. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler adds that Bond has visits scheduled with the Chiefs and Titans, as well.
Brooke Pryor of ESPN tells us that the Steelers hosted a full house on Thursday. Prospects on hand last week included Texas wide receiver Matthew Golden, Florida State cornerback Azareye’h Thomas, Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson, and Pittsburgh tight end Gavin Bartholomew.
Lastly, Pryor adds that Pittsburgh was one of the recent teams to host South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori. The pre-draft standout had reportedly lined up visits with Atlanta, Carolina, Seattle, Cincinnati, and Miami already. The Steelers’ interest in the Gamecock is no surprise as he’s trending towards being a Day 1 selection at this point.

Roger Goodell Praises Revamped Playoff Proposal

April 5th, 2025 at 10:10pm CST by Sam Robinson

The NFL began using record-based home-field advantage in the playoffs in 1975, but it took until 1990 for every division winner to receive a guaranteed postseason home game. The Lions have challenged a long-held norm by proposing a change to remove the guarantee of a division champion being assured at least one January home tilt.

No change in the NFL’s playoff structure occurred at the league meetings this week, but the Detroit proposal was not voted down. No vote took place, as the league tabled the measure, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets. However, some teams supported it. More notably, Roger Goodell offered some praise to what would be a significant change — one that had already come up before the Lions made an official proposal.

“I thought it is a very healthy proposal and a very healthy point that we need to evaluate and continue to look at,” Goodell said, via CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones. “It went through many different forms. There was some great data to show that we should really look at some form or version of this. But there was also a really strong point of view that winning the division was the No. 1 thing. When you come into training camp, that’s the goal: win that division first. And should that reward for winning that division be you’re in the playoffs and a home game?”

While competition committee member Mike Tomlin pushed back against stripping division champs of first-round home games, Jones notes the Cowboys were one of the teams that supported a format in which a team’s record — regardless of its divisional finish — dictated the postseason sites. This would have benefited the Vikings last year, as the Lions’ Week 18 win over their division rival pushed 14-3 Minnesota to the No. 5 seed — ahead of an eventual loss to the 10-7 Rams, who rested starters after being assured of a home game by virtue of an NFC West title.

The NFL’s first five post-merger playoff brackets came without records determining home fields, as the sites rotated annually. The 14-0 Dolphins famously had to play the 1972 AFC championship game at Three Rivers Stadium. When the league shifted to record-based home-field determination in 1975, the division winner with the third-best record still had to begin on the road due to only four teams per conference making the playoffs. From 1978-89, each conference’s third-best division champ also began on the road against the No. 2 seed — under a setup featuring one wild-card game and three teams holding first-round byes per conference. The NFL’s move to six-team playoff brackets in 1990 began guaranteeing home games to division champs.

This has produced some interesting matchups, with .500-or-worse teams using the home game to upend better opposition. The 2008 Chargers went from 5-8 to 8-8 and upset the 12-4 Colts in overtime, while Marshawn Lynch‘s “Beastquake” journey powered the 7-9 Seahawks to a win over the defending Super Bowl champion Saints (11-5) in 2010. A Tim Tebow-to-Demaryius Thomas game-winner propelled the 8-8 Broncos to a 2011 wild-card win over the 12-4 Steelers, while a 7-8-1 Panthers team defeated an 11-5 Cardinals squad — one using a third-string QB — in 2014. Washington (2020) and Tampa Bay (2022) also hosted games as sub-.500 teams. Those instances appear to have come up at the meetings.

“There was some discussion potentially about if you’re .500 or less and you won that division, should you also get the home game? I think there was some interest in that also,” Goodell said. “But I think the reality is it was very healthy and I think there will be more discussion of it.”

As a move to 18 games appears inevitable in the not-too-distant future, the prospect of clubs clinching divisions earlier looms. A balance between guaranteeing a division winner a playoff spot but not a home game could help force teams — particularly those with stronger home-field advantages — to keep pushing for higher seeds. Resting starters in Week 18 has become fairly common since the schedule expanded, and this figures to come up — especially with an 18th game all but certain to be added before the 2020s wrap — when owners revisit this discussion.

While the NFL yanking a home game away from division champs would devalue the accomplishment to a degree, it would seem unlikely the divisions would devolve into the fairly meaningless coalitions the NBA uses. Goodell regularly drives changes, and his not dismissing Detroit’s proposal opens the door to this becoming a serious talking point.

Patriots Trading Joe Milton To Cowboys

April 3rd, 2025 at 10:19pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Patriots are trading quarterback Joe Milton to the Cowboys, per FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz.

Dallas will send one of its fifth-round compensatory picks in April’s draft to New England in exchange for Milton and a seventh-rounder, according to David Moore of the Dallas Morning News. The Patriots received the 171st overall pick and the Cowboys now have the 217th overall pick, per Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer.

Milton was a sixth-round pick in 2024 who spent his rookie year as the Patriots’ QB3 behind No. 3 pick Drake Maye and veteran Jacoby Brissett. The 6-foot-5, 246-pound Milton brings a rare set of physical tools, including an especially powerful arm. He impressed in his lone appearance last season, completing 22 of his 29 passes for 241 yards, one touchdown, and a 111.4 passer rating in Week 18 against the Bills.

That performance helped to generate some trade buzz surrounding Milton, which picked up after the Patriots signed Joshua Dobbs. Dobbs arrived in New England to take over Brissett’s role, keeping Milton third on the depth chart with little potential for playing time. Milton was not seen as “an ideal backup” for Maye, according to Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald. The team even told Dobbs that they were looking to trade Milton in order to build their quarterback room around Maye and prioritize his development, per Breer.

Milton also wanted out of New England, seeing himself as a future starter and knowing he would have a better chance at seeing the field elsewhere, both in the short- and long-term. The Patriots granted permission for Milton to seek a trade, per Schultz, and the Cowboys “showed the most interest from the start.” The two teams had been negotiating for a few weeks before talks accelerated at league meetings in Florida, according to ESPN’s Todd Archer.

A number of other teams expressed interest in trading for Milton, according to Schultz, including the Raiders, Eagles, Giants, and Steelers. The Patriots had at least one better offer on the table, but worked with Milton to send him to his preferred landing spot in Dallas.

“My family grew up a Cowboys fan,” said Milton (via Schultz). “My mom always had a Cowboys shirt on. She always talked about them. Living in Texas has been a longtime dream of mine. And now I’m with them. I’m ready to work.”

Milton will arrive in Dallas as the presumptive backup to Dak Prescott. The Cowboys explored an extension with 2024 backup Trey Lance after Prescott went down last season, per Archer, but the former No. 3 pick remains a free agent. Dallas also had interest in Brissett and Drew Lock in free agency, according to Archer.

Milton has three years and $3.2MM remaining on his contract, per OverTheCap, while Brissett’s shorter, two-year deal with the Cardinals is worth three times as much. With Prescott still commanding the highest salary in the NFL, the Cowboys opted to trade for a young, cost-controlled with developmental upside over the next three years.

Aaron Rodgers Contacted Kevin O’Connell On Vikings Interest

April 3rd, 2025 at 10:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

Although the Steelers continue to express confidence Aaron Rodgers will eventually become their next starting quarterback, the four-time MVP is moving toward a fourth week as a free agent. Rodgers threw passes to D.K. Metcalf recently, which would represent a good sign for Pittsburgh’s prospects to close this market. But uncertainty remains.

A report late last month indicated Rodgers communicated to the Vikings they were his preferred landing spot, and some in the organization backed a deal. The team’s plan remains to deploy J.J. McCarthy as the starter, and ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert notes this aim influenced both Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones‘ decisions to leave Minnesota. It has not deterred Rodgers just yet.

Kevin O’Connell confirmed Rodgers reached out to him during his free agency, and Seifert indicates the two spoke multiple times this offseason. Relaying those discussions up the chain with the Vikings, O’Connell is still preparing to develop McCarthy into a Week 1 starter this year. Though, the party line in Minnesota has not locked in this status for last year’s No. 10 overall pick.

“Aaron and I have had a relationship for a long time,” O’Connell said this week. “He initially reached out and we were able to have some conversations. We were on the hunt to always improve our football team and put our football team in the best possible chance to win. … He happened to be at a point in time in his career where he was free to have some real dialogue about what his future may look like. And we happened to be one of those teams that he reached out to.”

Rodgers, 41, and O’Connell, 39, did not play together during the latter’s time touring the league attempting to catch on as a backup. O’Connell enjoyed stints with the Patriots, Lions, Jets, Dolphins and Chargers from 2008-12. O’Connell also never coached in Green Bay, so citing a relationship is certainly interesting — especially pertaining to a potential alliance in Minnesota. It might take a while, however, before the Vikings consider circling back.

Minnesota’s minicamp will run from June 10-12. Teams regularly reevaluate rosters between minicamp and training camp, though quarterback additions — especially starter-caliber QBs — are obviously rare. The Vikings do have a history of late-arriving starters, having traded for Sam Bradford — after Teddy Bridgewater‘s severe 2016 knee injury — and signed Brett Favre during training camp. The Steelers, who have met with Rodgers and confirmed their offer (made early in free agency) is still on the table, should not be expected to wait that long for an answer. It will be interesting if Rodgers does not inform the AFC North team of his plans by the draft.

Rodgers has not seen the Steelers increase their offer, though it stands to reason the team might if he holds out longer, and the Washington Post’s Jason La Canfora indicates the future first-ballot Hall of Famer may have a hard time adjusting to his new market. The Giants were believed to have offered Rodgers the most money; they eventually pivoted to Russell Wilson on a one-year, $10.5MM deal. Rodgers should not be expected to come close to his Packers or Jets salaries, and while the 20-year veteran is prioritizing fit, it would stand to reason money is a factor here.

The Vikings may also not know if McCarthy is truly ready — after two meniscus surgeries — until he begins to face competition during 11-on-11 settings, at the very least. That would not happen until training camp. That timeline obviously affects the Steelers, even if they have effectively pushed the Giants out of this race. It is worth wondering how big the gap between Rodgers’ views of the Vikings and Steelers are. The bigger the difference in the QB’s opinion of these teams, the longer it would make sense for him to wait.

The Steelers continue to express patience, but if Rodgers does not sign, they will need to either seriously consider Mason Rudolph as a bridge or look into another veteran. Mike Tomlin said his 2023 playoff starter could still serve as a starter, but that is certainly not the organization’s goal. Joe Flacco remains in free agency, and Kirk Cousins is a trade candidate. Pittsburgh continues to do homework on draft prospects, but holding the No. 21 overall pick in a draft not flooded with high-level QB prospects, this reminds of the Kenny Pickett year.

D.K. Metcalf Made Previous Trade Requests; WR Was Uninterested In Patriots Fit

April 2nd, 2025 at 10:33pm CST by Sam Robinson

D.K. Metcalf recently caught passes from Aaron Rodgers, who has been a Steelers free agent target for weeks. Although Metcalf scored his coveted extension, being part of Pittsburgh’s Rodgers recruitment did not appear to be his goal upon hitting the trade market in earnest this offseason.

The Steelers came up as a Metcalf suitor before last year’s deadline, but the Seahawks shot down talks. Metcalf, however, made it known he wanted a trade prior to requesting one this year, ESPN.com’s Brady Henderson reports. Pittsburgh also did not emerge as the Pro Bowl wideout’s preferred destination.

With the Steelers lacking quarterback clarity, it makes sense they were not the seventh-year veteran’s priority landing spot. Though, Metcalf also made it known, per Henderson, he did not want to be traded to the Patriots. Despite New England now having a long-term QB hopeful in Drake Maye, Metcalf was not interested in a deal that sent him there. He follows Brandon Aiyuk in passing on such a deal.

The Patriots showed interest this year, which is unsurprising given their enduring effort to upgrade at wide receiver, but they did not ultimately make an offer. That may well be the case because Metcalf made it known he did not want to end up in Foxborough. The Pats were prepared to pursue him in a trade, Henderson adds. This fit not coming to fruition follows a summer Aiyuk effort that involved the Pats being linked to a $32MM-per-year offer — the highest known extension price during those trade sweepstakes — only to not land on the WR’s list. The Steelers instead emerged as Aiyuk’s top 49ers competition, with the Commanders being a destination as well.

Washington did not come up for Metcalf, but Henderson indicates Houston and Los Angeles did. The Texans and Chargers instead emerged as the wideout’s preferred destinations, confirming a previous report that the receiver had eyed those AFC squads. Though, the Seahawks needed to both find a Metcalf landing spot that appeased the receiver, one willing to meet the team’s price point and one willing to sign off on an upper-crust extension. The Steelers ended up checking those boxes, giving Metcalf a $32.99MM-per-year deal — one coming with $60MM at signing — to end their lengthy WR pursuit.

Given Metcalf’s success in Seattle, it is interesting he requested a move. The team had seen Geno Smith morph from roster afterthought to Comeback Player of the Year. Metcalf’s numbers vacillated during Smith’s time as Seattle’s starter. After a 1,300-yard season in Russell Wilson‘s final healthy Seahawks slate, Metcalf posted two sub-1,000-yard years (2021, 2024).

Last season, Jaxon Smith-Njigba emerged as Seattle’s top weapon — to the point Mike Macdonald prioritized an OC who would help reignite Metcalf. Now, he and Smith are out of the picture. Macdonald’s OC search highlighted an interest in retaining Metcalf, but Henderson adds the team weighed the WR’s unhappiness with what it would take to extend him for a second time.

The Texans already have Nico Collins on a big-ticket extension; his $24MM-per-year price — which matches Metcalf’s previous AAV — now looks like a steal. The Chargers jettisoned their two high-priced WR contracts (Keenan Allen, Mike Williams) weeks into Jim Harbaugh‘s tenure. While the Bolts previously came up as a team to watch for Metcalf, Harbaugh’s outfit has kept costs low at the position. Recommitting to the run game, the Chargers did ultimately reunite with Williams this offseason. Not contributing much after the Steelers added him in a trade, the former top-10 pick is back in L.A. on a one-year deal worth only $3MM.

The Pats have temporarily addressed their receiver situation by signing Stefon Diggs, a perennial Pro Bowler the Texans showed interest in retaining. While Diggs has an extensive production history, he is also a depressed asset due to coming off an ACL tear at 31. New England’s long-term WR search will likely continue, and the Aiyuk and Metcalf storylines show the difficulties the team has had recruiting here post-Tom Brady.

Aaron Rodgers, Mike Tomlin Remain In Contact

April 1st, 2025 at 10:52am CST by Ben Levine

APRIL 1: When speaking at the league meetings on Tuesday, Steelers owner Art Rooney II confirmed (via Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) “signs are pointing in that direction” with respect to a Rodgers deal being worked out. He added the team is still willing to wait for Rodgers at this point, although that will not be the case forever (h/t Pryor).

MARCH 31: We may not be any closer to Aaron Rodgers signing in Pittsburgh, but all signs continue to point to the quarterback joining the Steelers. While speaking with reporters today, coach Mike Tomlin acknowledged that he’s remained in contact with Rodgers since their in-person meeting on March 21 (via Mark Maske of The Washington Post).

While Tomlin acknowledged that he didn’t have any new updates on the public flirtation between the two sides, he did reiterate that there isn’t any urgency for a resolution. Following reports from yesterday that training camp would represent the “line of demarcation” for the organization, Tomlin said he’s “really comfortable with being unsettled this time of year” (via Maske).

Tomlin also talked about his meeting with Rodgers, noting that he was happy to speak with a long-time competitor.

“There’s no substitute for intimacy and spending time together,” Tomlin said (via NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo). “[G]etting to know one another in a non-competitive environment.”

As Rodgers considers his next move, Tomlin isn’t the only Steelers employee he’s been talking to. According to Garafolo, the QB had a throwing session with recent acquisition D.K. Metcalf. Garafolo suggests this could simply be a part of Rodgers’ process as he evaluates the potential landing spot, but it could also be the determining factor before the player puts pen to paper.

Considering the Steelers’ lack of free agent options and Rodgers’ dearth of remaining suitors, the two sides seem to be a natural pairing. While the assumption is that they’ll eventually link up, the organization seems to be proactively planting the seeds in case a contract doesn’t come to fruition. While speaking with reporters today, Tomlin said the Steelers would be comfortable heading into next season with Mason Rudolph as their starting quarterback.

“That’s why we brought him back,” Tomlin said (via ESPN’s Brooke Pryor). “I’m comfortable with that. We’ve been there before. He’s a very capable guy.”

Of course, the Steelers got a look at Rudolph as a starter during his first stint in Pittsburgh, as the former third-round pick went 8-4-1 as a starter between 2019 and 2023. Rudolph didn’t fare nearly as well during his 2024 stay in Tennessee (1-4 as a starter), but the Steelers were still confident enough in his ability to bring him back on a two-year deal. Skylar Thompson is the only other QB currently on the Steelers roster.

Steelers Have No Timeline For Aaron Rodgers Deal, Still Exploring Other QBs

March 30th, 2025 at 7:18pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said that the team has no exact timeline to sign Aaron Rodgers, per team writer Dale Lolley.

Training camp, however, would be a “line of demarcation,” per ESPN’s Brooke Pryor. At that point, not having a quarterback in place would hinder the team’s ability to build chemistry and cohesiveness before the season.

Pittsburgh’s public pursuit of the four-time MVP has not advanced past a six-hour visit on March 21. Tomlin said that the two sides were focused on getting to know each other during the meeting. He also did not rule out another addition to a Steelers quarterback room that currently features two players – Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson – who have combined for 21 career starts.

“We’re still evaluating the acquisition of a guy at the position, whether it’s in free agency and/or the draft,” said Tomlin (via Lolley).

Rodgers is the only starting-caliber quarterback available in free agency, but the Steelers could explore trading for Kirk Cousins after the draft. That would likely be predicated on Pittsburgh not picking a quarterback in the first round of April’s draft. The team currently holds the No. 21 pick, where top quarterback prospects Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders are not expected to be available.

The Steelers have been scouting the rest of the 2025 quarterback class, including Notre Dame’s Riley Leonard, Ohio State’s Will Howard, and Texas’ Quinn Ewers. Tomlin and general manager Omar Khan visited all three schools’ pro days in recent weeks, per Mike DeFabo of The Athletic.

Tomlin also acknowledged the possibility of entering the season with Rudolph as the starter.

“I think that’s why we reacquired him. We like Mason Rudolph, but you know, that’s no secret,” he said (via DeFabo).

Latest On Steelers, Aaron Rodgers

March 29th, 2025 at 10:51pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Aaron Rodgers wait persists in Pittsburgh. Not viewed as being the clubhouse leaders for the future Hall of Fame quarterback, the Giants took themselves out of the running this week by signing Russell Wilson. Letting Wilson walk without showing much offseason interest, the Steelers have met with Rodgers and continue to hope he accepts their offer.

Pittsburgh is not believed to have raised its offer since submitting it near the beginning of free agency, and New York leaving this derby may not convince the AFC North club to update it. That said, SI.com’s Albert Breer notes the 41-year-old passer is viewed as being more focused on a potential fit than additional money he can add to his career earnings.

Considering Rodgers has made more than $380MM in his career, not making money the lead driver here makes sense. On that note, Bleacher Report’s James Palmer adds (h/t Steelers Depot’s Troy Montgomery) some in the Steelers’ building are wondering whether a Rodgers addition would mean overhauling Pittsburgh’s offense to suit the veteran or if the 20-year QB would assimilate into Arthur Smith‘s scheme.

This could bring be a bit of give and take, though it should be noted the Buccaneers and Broncos eventually tailored their schemes to suit Tom Brady and Peyton Manning‘s respective skillsets. However, Rodgers’ attempt to follow his more accomplished peers’ lead by thriving after a late-career relocation did not go well after the Jets imported the QB’s preferred scheme.

Smith and Wilson clashed during the latter’s lone Pittsburgh season, and Rodgers certainly has a reputation as a demanding presence. But Rodgers is also believed to be seeking a Packers-like environment, per Breer, after his Jets partnership went south. The Steelers use a similar contract blueprint to the Packers’ and carry an established culture, one currently fostered by the likes of Cameron Heyward, T.J. Watt and Minkah Fitzpatrick. Those defenders’ primes have hit a wall thanks largely to shaky quarterback play. Although Rodgers’ shtick may not be for everyone, the Steelers are willing to take a chance here due to the shortcomings they have seen at QB this decade.

As for where this stands, Rodgers has still not given any indication regarding when he will decide. He is believed to have told the Vikings they would be his preference. Minnesota GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah did not completely rule out Rodgers, but the team is pausing a potential pursuit — despite some support in the building for one — to give J.J. McCarthy free rein during the offseason program. Unless Rodgers wants to take a Brett Favre-like approach and wait for a Vikings fit to emerge this summer, he will need to let the Steelers know on a decision soon. The team is doing homework on QBs in the draft, preparing to host Jaxson Dart on a “30” visit in April.

Confirming the team is doing plenty of homework on this QB draft class, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler said during a SportsCenter appearance the Steelers are nevertheless optimistic on Rodgers. This reminds of a weekend report that viewed a Rodgers-Steelers union as likely.

More notably, Fowler indicates several around the league’s QB market assume the Steelers probably received a degree of assurance that Rodgers will commit to Pittsburgh at some point. With Wilson believed to have remained interested in a second Steelers contract, the team standing down and letting him walk could well point to confidence Rodgers will sign eventually.

The draft may not provide a true deadline, but the Steelers would obviously prefer to know if they have a surefire 2025 starter before potentially making a plan to acquire an heir apparent. If Rodgers opts to retire or informs the Steelers he will wait on the Vikings, the team would be in a tough spot. With Wilson gone, Joe Flacco, Carson Wentz and Ryan Tannehill — the latter having not played in 2024 — are the most notable bridge options available in free agency. Kirk Cousins would be an option after the draft, as the Falcons QB will wait to see how teams operate there before waiving his no-trade clause, but he would appeal to the Browns (and ex-boss Kevin Stefanski) as well.

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