Aaron Rodgers

Aaron Rodgers Will Not Sign With Saints; QB Hints Further At Steelers Deal

May 24th, 2025 at 10:50pm CST by Adam La Rose

Despite not having a deal for the 2025 season in place – along with no timeline for an agreement to be reached – Aaron Rodgers remains the focus of considerable offseason attention. His latest public remarks on his future point further in the direction it has been heading in for quite some time.

During a recent question-and-answer session while appearing on stage at an event hosted by rapper Mike Stud, Rodgers was asked about his plans for next season. Notably (albeit to no surprise), the 41-year-old confirmed he will not sign with the Saints. In the wake of Derek Carr‘s retirement, it became clear New Orleans would hold an open competition amongst the team’s remaining passers for the starting gig.

That leaves the Steelers as a logical Rodgers landing spot. The four-time MVP has been linked to Pittsburgh throughout the offseason, one in which Russell Wilson and Justin Fields departed in free agency. Steelers owner Art Rooney II has repeatedly expressed confidence that a deal will get done, and in the wake of the draft the team remained optimistic Rodgers will be in place for 2025. The latest indication that will indeed be the case came when the longtime Packers star was asked if he would be willing to ever play for the Bears.

“No, but I believe there’s a team that might play in Chicago this year on a road trip,” Rodgers said (video link). “I don’t know, not sure. Got to check it out.”

The Steelers’ 2025 schedule includes a road game against the Bears (Week 12), so that remark can be interpreted as another sign a Pittsburgh deal will be coming. The end of May was recently floated as the time at which an agreement could be in place, and the Steelers would no doubt prefer to have Rodgers in the fold as soon as possible. At the recent owners meetings, Rooney stated he and the team would remain patient “a little while longer” (h/t ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler) on the Rodgers front.

As a result, it remains to be seen when exactly the two parties – which met during a lengthy free agent visit and have discussed at least one contract offer – will come to a formal arrangement. Rodgers’ preferred destination this spring was the Vikings, but in the absence of a Minnesota deal being possible a short-term Pittsburgh pact has represented a fallback plan. That is clearly still the case at this point.

Mason Rudolph (brought back after spending 2024 with the Titans) is atop the depth chart for now, but the veteran was informed of Pittsburgh’s QB plans before he agreed to return during free agency. Skylar Thompson and sixth-round rookie Will Howard will be present for training camp this summer, but the Steelers are expected to add a fourth signal-caller, per usual. Rodgers remains atop the list of the likeliest candidates to be added at some point before camp begins in July.

Aaron Rodgers To Sign With Steelers By End Of May?

May 18th, 2025 at 10:27pm CST by Rory Parks

It has long seemed like a foregone conclusion that, assuming Aaron Rodgers chooses to play in 2025, he will suit up for the Steelers. A report from earlier this week indicated Pittsburgh was still optimistic it would get a deal done with the future Hall of Famer, and signs continue to point in that direction.

Rodgers’ biographer, Ian O’Connor, recently appeared on 93.7 The Fan’s The PM Team and predicted the 41-year-old would put pen to paper by the end of May (h/t Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk). Although he declined to disclose the personal issues that Rodgers himself has cited for his delay in signing with a club, O’Connor does not believe those issues – which pertain to a member of Rodgers’ inner circle – would preclude him from playing football.

Florio previously expressed his belief, supported by a source who knows Rodgers but who has no specific knowledge of the current situation, that the eccentric signal-caller may have wanted to avoid being a distraction by signing a contract with the Steelers but remaining away from the team for the early stages of the club’s offseason program as he sorts out his personal matter. Of course, given Rodgers’ status and the coverage that constantly surrounds him, the fact that he has not signed a contract at all is its own form of distraction. Still, it is fair to conclude that officially joining Pittsburgh and not reporting during the first phases of the offseason – which Rodgers has openly opposed anyway – would have invited even more scrutiny.

“I just think verbally, behind the scenes, not that he guaranteed it, but he’s told [the Steelers], ‘Listen, I’m gonna play for you. I just don’t want to go there and then miss part of mandatory minicamp because of my personal issues. I’m pretty sure they’re gonna be solved by the end of May, at least in my satisfaction where I can give you my all,'” O’Connor said (via Ross McCorkle of SteelersDepot.com).

Florio believes O’Connor was referring to the offseason program in general and not mandatory minicamp specifically, as mandatory minicamp does not take place until June 10. Florio also believes there is a good chance Rodgers will have signed with Pittsburgh by next week, as OTAs get underway on May 27.

Outside of the quarterback position, the Steelers have a playoff-worthy roster and did not select a signal-caller in this year’s draft until they added Ohio State’s Will Howard in the sixth round. As such, the runway is very much clear for Rodgers to come aboard and supplant Mason Rudolph as Pittsburgh’s QB1.

O’Connor, who interviewed 250 people for his book Out of the Darkness: The Mystery of Aaron Rodgers, believes Pittsburgh is the “perfect place” for Rodgers to finish his playing career.

“It may be me as an optimist, but I think this is gonna work out,” O’Connor said. “Do I think the Steelers will win the Super Bowl next year? No. But if you told me 11-6 with at least one playoff victory … I think that’s realistic.”

Rodgers has never been linked in any meaningful way to the Saints this offseason, and that did not change after it became clear Derek Carr would retire, per NOLA.com’s Jeff Duncan. New Orleans will conduct an open competition between second-round rookie Tyler Shough and holdovers Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener as it seeks its starting quarterback for 2025.

Giants’ Draft Plan Turned Off Some Veteran QB Targets

May 17th, 2025 at 10:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Giants now have their quarterback room assembled, adding Jameis Winston, Russell Wilson and Jaxson Dart to join Tommy DeVito. This is the first room assembled by the current regime, which inherited Daniel Jones and stuck with the Dave Gettleman draftee for three years.

A Winston-Wilson pairing to join Dart did not check in as the Giants’ preference, as the team aggressively pursued Matthew Stafford and extended an offer to Aaron Rodgers. Stafford regrouped with the Rams, spurning Giants and Raiders proposals, while Rodgers’ Vikings preference became clear. The Giants may well have sat third in Rodgers’ rankings, as he met with the Steelers on a visit four days before the Giants agreed to terms with Wilson.

Rodgers held a private discussions with Brian Daboll, according to ESPN.com’s Jordan Raanan, who adds some of the available quarterbacks were not onboard with joining a Giants team viewed as one that could then use a high draft choice on the position. Based on how the Steelers proceeded in the draft, Rodgers could certainly be assumed as a player who fits that description. While the increasingly outspoken QB said during a Pat McAfee Show offseason interview he would not object to a team doing what it needed to do in the draft, Pittsburgh not choosing a passer until Round 6 (Will Howard) proves telling.

The Giants made their move much earlier, trading up for Jaxson Dart without using a future first- or second-round pick to do so. New York, which could not convince New England to accept its 2024 trade-up proposal (aimed at acquiring Drake Maye) or Tennessee to sign off on a Cam Ward-geared pursuit this year, used No. 34 overall and 2025 and ’26 third-rounders to move up for Dart.

Stafford was briefly available, and Rodgers continues to hold off on a Steelers signing. It is not known if the Giants engaged with the Seahawks on Geno Smith, but they did look closely at a Sam Darnold pursuit. PFR’s No. 1 2025 free agent, Darnold was believed to be high on the Giants’ QB list in March. Coming off a bounce-back season with the Vikings, Darnold carried tremendous value due to his 2024 form and age. The 2018 Jets draftee will not turn 28 until June, and after he had signed on to be a bridge QB in Minnesota last year, a 35-touchdown pass season gave him more leverage on the market this year. It would thus be unsurprising if Darnold did not strongly consider a Giants team that had also been closely tied to a QB draft move for months.

Darnold returning to New York, considering how his Jets run went, also loomed as a hurdle in the Giants’ path. The eighth-year veteran is now a Seahawk, having joined the team on a deal (three years, $100.5MM) that reminds of Derek Carr‘s 2022 Raiders extension. Seattle can escape the contract with fairly low dead money by releasing Darnold before a roster bonus is due in mid-February. The Seahawks did discuss their Jalen Milroe plans with Darnold, who enters the season as the team’s clear-cut starter.

Daboll has confirmed Wilson is the Giants’ starter, but with the team investing plenty in Dart in a year that features Daboll and GM Joe Schoen on hot seats, the No. 25 overall pick usurping the ex-Seahawks superstar early in the season should not be ruled out.

The Giants do open their season with a gauntlet, as six games against 2024 playoff teams reside on their schedule’s first eight weeks. A friendlier second half does present a Dart runway, but Daboll and Schoen already moved to their respective hot seats based largely on the Jones situation. It stands to reason they will want to at least see Dart in action early, as pressure mounts, though the team will also need to balance this desire out with a debut range that would make the Ole Miss prospect look promising.

Aaron Rodgers Still In Steelers’ QB Plans

May 15th, 2025 at 10:02pm CST by Adam La Rose

The 2025 draft came and went without any clarity emerging on the Aaron Rodgers front, leading to further questions regarding where (if at all) he will play this year. If the future Hall of Famer suits up, Pittsburgh remains the likeliest destination.

The Steelers are still “optimistic” Rodgers will sign, ESPN’s Dan Graziano reports. Team and player have remained in contact well after meeting in person during free agency, but the 41-year-old’s most recent public comments on his situation made it clear personal matters are the top priority for now. A starting gig would await Rodgers upon arrival in Pittsburgh, especially if his stated willingness to take a one-year pact for as little as $10MM holds true.

Mason Rudolph returned to the organization after a one-year absence, and the Steelers have repeatedly expressed confidence in his ability to handle QB1 duties for at least the 2025 campaign. As Graziano writes, Pittsburgh’s stance on the quarterback situation is more positive internally than it is viewed from the outside. Skylar Thompson and sixth-round rookie Will Howard round out the depth chart at this point.

The Steelers fully intend to bring four signal-callers to training camp, per usual. As a result, an addition of some kind will need to be made, and Kirk Cousins looms as the other notable veteran who could be obtained (albeit via trade, and in a manner which would no doubt require a more lucrative financial commitment than a Rodgers signing). The Vikings are – in all likelihood – no longer in the market for an addition under center, taking Rodgers’ preferred team out of the running.

Shedeur Sanders loomed as an option for the Steelers at pick No. 21 last month, but the team was split on drafting the Colorado product. Pittsburgh waited until much later to add a developmental rookie, with owner Art Rooney II saying in between that Rodgers wants to play for his team in 2025. A short-term arrangement would leave open the possibility of adding a starting-caliber rookie next year, thus meeting Pittsburgh’s goal of acquiring a long-term passer within the 2025 or ’26 drafts.

Rudolph helped lead the Steelers to the postseason in 2023 upon taking over from Kenny Pickett. The latter was unable to deliver on expectations as a Ben Roethlisberger successor, something Rodgers will of course not be viewed as even in the event he signs. An agreement on that front would nevertheless add intrigue to the prospects for a team whose regular season schedule begins with a Jets matchup and includes a Week 8 Sunday night contest in Green Bay.

Steelers Didn’t Reach Consensus On QB Shedeur Sanders

May 10th, 2025 at 9:50pm CST by Ely Allen

The Steelers surprised many as pick after pick went by in the 2025 NFL Draft and they continued to watch Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders slide throughout the draft. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the reason Pittsburgh never made the call was because the organization “did not reach a consensus on Sanders as a slam dunk pick.”

The Steelers came into the draft with a need at quarterback. Sure, they were (and still are) in talks with veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers, but nothing had been signed or decided on that front, and even if it had been, Rodgers is 41 years old and is three full years removed from playing the elite level of ball we’ve come to associate him with. Securing a top passing prospect would have still been a smart move if Rodgers ends up on the roster because it would give them a student to learn and develop behind him.

Pittsburgh did end up taking a quarterback in the draft, but that selection wouldn’t come until late into Day 3, when Will Howard was selected in the sixth round. Following the departures of one-year rentals Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, Howard joins a group that contains former Steelers backup Mason Rudolph and former Dolphins backup Skylar Thompson. Both have seen time as starters in injury replacement situations in their careers, and while Rudolph has fared decently in his opportunities, neither quarterback inspires much confidence heading into the 2025 season.

This begs the question: why didn’t Pittsburgh take a swing on a quarterback earlier? Or, if they knew they were going to wait to select one, why, when they saw Sanders freefalling round after round, did they not take a flyer on his obvious potential?

One can certainly see where they liked the value they were getting for versatile Oregon defensive tackle Derrick Harmon as a potential eventual replacement for Cameron Heyward or the hole-filling potential of third-round Iowa rusher Kaleb Johnson, who could compete with Jaylen Warren for some serious carries. But once the fourth round rolled around and Sanders, a projected first- or second-round pick, was still around, how important was it to add Jack Sawyer to blend in with a group that already contains T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, and Nick Herbig? Does Sawyer add more value to that group that Sanders would’ve to a position that only contained Rudolph and Thompson at the time? The Steelers will need to hope so.

Ultimately, Fowler tells us that the team was “comfortable with (Sanders) as a distributing point guard type,” but they couldn’t all agree that he was “a slam dunk pick.” It’s true that a knock on Sanders was his reliance on screens, quick passes, and checkdowns — only 23.7 percent of his completions at Colorado were on throws over 10 yards.

Regardless, his playing style helped him to finish fourth in the country in yards per game while throwing 37 touchdowns to 10 interceptions. Even with three extra games on his schedule, Howard did not encroach upon Sanders’ yardage or touchdown numbers last year. But the team was undecided on whether Sanders was worth the fourth-round flyer, and that led him to his new home in Cleveland.

The Steelers are still getting a quarterback who had a great completion percentage (73.0) while throwing the ball a bit more downfield (9.5 yards per attempt) and still having an impressive touchdown-interception ratio. They’ll just have to hope that Howard (and Sawyer) contribute enough to erase any doubt of the decision they made.

Art Rooney II: Aaron Rodgers Wants To Play For Steelers

April 25th, 2025 at 10:53pm CST by Adam La Rose

With the third round of the NFL draft ongoing, Aaron Rodgers looms over the developing quarterback landscape. Connections to the Steelers continue as the team weighs a potential rookie addition.

Owner Art Rooney II said during a Friday appearance on Steelers Now that Rodgers does “want” to come to Pittsburgh (h/t ESPN’s Brooke Pryor). He added news on this long-running front may be coming soon as a result.

Team and player have remained in communication this week, with the Steelers obviously preferring to have clarity on whether or not Rodgers will sign prior to the start of the draft. It remains to be seen if the 41-year-old will play at all next year, but if he does a short Pittsburgh stint would come as no surprise given the interest shown in him. No timeline is in place, but a number of QB prospects are still on the board with the Steelers due to pick 83rd overall.

During his recent public comments on his situation, Rodgers said personal matters are currently receiving the bulk of his attention during his lengthy free agent stint. The four-time MVP has communicated to teams he is prepared to take a one-year deal in the $10MM range, an arrangement which would certainly leave the door open to the addition of a rookie. Rodgers is (at least publicly) on board with suitors moving forward with a QB draft pick, and it will be interesting to see if the Steelers do indeed go that route soon.

Pittsburgh was among the teams which had a first-round grade on Jaxson Dart, but the team turned down the opportunity to select him and instead took Oregon defensive tackle Derrick Harmon. Shedeur Sanders, meanwhile, remains on the board with the opening two rounds in the books. Head coach Mike Tomlin is believed to be a fan of Sanders, making him a potential target with the team’s third-rounder.

In any event, Rooney’s comments made it clear a rookie would not be expected to handle starting duties right away in 2025. The team has Mason Rudolph back in the fold for next season, and Rodgers would of course occupy the QB1 role in the event he were to take Pittsburgh’s long-standing offer. A long-term solution under center remains a logical goal, though.

“It’s going to be somebody that will be developing and may play down the road,” Rooney said (via Alan Saunders of Steelers Now). “It’s not like somebody that’s going to have a big impact on this season.”

The Steelers have made it clear they will enter training camp with four quarterbacks, two more than they currently have. Rodgers is obviously still in play to join the team at some point as the wait continues with respect to seeing Pittsburgh’s draft plans.

Steelers Sought Aaron Rodgers Answer During Draft Week

April 25th, 2025 at 3:40pm CST by Sam Robinson

3:40pm: Dialogue between team and player continues in this case, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports. She adds there is still no timeline in place for a decision to be made, so attention will remain focused on Pittsburgh’s draft moves (if any) under center.

12:02pm: Aaron Rodgers received an offer to start for the Steelers at free agency’s outset. That was more than six weeks ago. The future Hall of Fame quarterback has not determined if he will play in 2025, even as previous reports pointed to it. The Steelers are also not believed to be Rodgers’ first choice.

As the Vikings have stiff-armed the ex-Packers and Jets starter, while they wait to see if J.J. McCarthy can seize the Week 1 job, the Steelers still would provide a clear-cut path for Rodgers to remain a starter. The 41-year-old QB said last week, during his first Pat McAfee Show appearance since his Jets release, he would not attempt to dictate any draft move an interested team made. But the Steelers, after choosing Oregon defensive lineman Derrick Harmon at No. 21, are still in dire need of a quarterback.

It would make sense if the team received some degree of assurance Rodgers would sign, but that still does not appear to be the case. The Steelers also are believed to have reached out for clarity before the draft, as The Exhibit’s Josina Anderson reports the team communicated with Rodgers this week in hopes he would give an answer at least 48 hours before the draft. The Steelers’ Harmon pick could be a sign the team received the answer it wanted, but considering how Rodgers has played his free agency so far, his top suitor may well remain in the dark.

The Steelers enter Day 2 of the draft without a second-round pick, having dealt it to the Seahawks for D.K. Metcalf. This limits the team’s chances to add one of the top remaining quarterbacks. Connections to Shedeur Sanders and Jaxson Dart came out during the pre-draft process. Dart went to the Giants at No. 25, while Sanders remains on the board.

Although the Colorado QB’s stock has undeniably dipped since the Buffaloes’ season ended, it would still surprise if Sanders were available by the time the Steelers’ third-round pick (No. 83) went on the clock. That would put a trade-up into play, though an early Jalen Milroe connection emerged as well. The Steelers also did work on Quinn Ewers, Will Howard and Kyle McCord. Each member of trio may well be there by No. 83, though Milroe is not expected to fall that far. Pittsburgh adding Ewers, Howard or McCord, however, would call into question the team’s plan for 2025.

If Rodgers continues to pause a Steelers signing, the organization may be forced to act. Kirk Cousins has come up at multiple junctures for the AFC North team, but a roster with both he and Rodgers would not make sense. Cousins is not believed to be interested in waiving his no-trade clause for a team that adds a potential rookie starter.

The Steelers could attempt to thread the needle by adding a third-round QB or using a Day 3 pick on the position, keeping the door open for Cousins or Rodgers to accompany Mason Rudolph. But the team will run the risk of losing out altogether — depending on the Falcons’ decision (which still involves a team taking on a sizable chunk of Cousins’ money) and Rodgers’ retirement call. The Steelers are believed to want to make their QB draft investment this year or next, but they held off on Dart and Sanders last night, having been burned by a QB reach (for Kenny Pickett) recently.

While Mike Tomlin has said he would feel comfortable starting Rudolph, that probably should not even be considered Plan B for the Steelers. Cousins or a Day 2 rookie probably would be the team’s preferred starter, if Rodgers refuses to sign. Art Rooney II said the team is OK waiting on Rodgers and expressed confidence at the owners meetings Rodgers would sign. But this draft news does confirm some understandable impatience on the organization’s part. It will be interesting to see how the Steelers proceed tonight.

Browns, Steelers, Vikings Linked To Kirk Cousins; Saints In Mix For Falcons QB?

April 23rd, 2025 at 11:20pm CST by Sam Robinson

Although Shedeur Sanders probably enters the draft with the most compelling storyline, a player who came off the board on Day 3 13 years ago is pushing for a front-row spot. The Kirk Cousins situation remains foggy, even after the demoted Falcons quarterback reported on time for his team’s offseason program.

Cousins is still eyeing a way out of Atlanta, and teams continue to come up as interested parties. Even after their Joe Flacco addition — one that came after Cousins consideration — the Browns are being mentioned as a candidate to add Cousins. So are the Steelers and Vikings, according to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini. How teams proceed in the draft will obviously play a central role in Cousins’ willingness to sign off on a trade, as he is not planning to waive his no-trade clause before the draft — in an effort to avoid a redux of his 2024 storyline.

Of the above-referenced trio, Russini points to the Vikings being the least likely to add Cousins — in what would be a quick reunion — due to J.J. McCarthy‘s presence. With McCarthy’s path to the Minnesota starting job clear enough the team has brushed off Aaron Rodgers, it would be understandable if Cousins — his production under Kevin O’Connell notwithstanding — would be leery of landing there again. Cousins would be against a trade that sends him to a team with a starter-level young passer, Russini adds. Considering the teams in this mix, that might be a difficult play.

Employing ex-Cousins Vikings OC Kevin Stefanski, the Browns are candidates to circle back to address their QB situation after making their first-round pick (likely Travis Hunter). The Giants, Saints, Rams and Dolphins join the Steelers in being linked to early-round QB investments. Cleveland already signing Flacco and adding Kenny Pickett via trade would stand to block a Cousins path — if a rookie is tabbed, at least. If the Browns somehow leave this draft without a QB, they could be in play to reunite Cousins and Stefanski, where a Flacco competition would stand to be on tap.

As odd as it would be to see the Falcons send their high-priced backup to their top rival, the Saints should also be considered on the Cousins radar, Sportskeeda.com’s Tony Pauline writes. Falcons GM Terry Fontenot came from the Saints, and Pauline adds the Falcons would consider dealing Cousins to any team willing to pay a sizable chunk of the QB’s 2025 money. Cousins’ 2025 base salary ($27.5MM) is guaranteed, giving the Falcons no incentive to move on without someone taking on part of the salary. We heard earlier this offseason that Atlanta wanted an acquiring team to pay at least $20MM of Cousins’ tab. That has seemed highly unlikely to occur.

Donovan McNabb and Drew Bledsoe were traded within their divisions this century, creating a precedent for Fontenot and Co. The Saints, however, want to leave this draft with a quarterback. Mickey Loomis evaded Derek Carr questions at his pre-draft presser today, further muddying this situation, one that has the veteran starter in danger of missing some (or all) of the 2025 season due to a shoulder injury. New Orleans has done extensive work on prospects but is viewed as less likely to spend its No. 9 overall pick on the position. This would send them into a battle royal of sorts with the lot of teams eyeing this draft’s second wave of passers.

The Steelers could be the spot teams eyeing a trade-up maneuver to target, though they are not certain to use their first-rounder (No. 21) on a QB, either. Mike Tomlin has said Mason Rudolph would be an acceptable starter, but Pittsburgh — recent doubts aside — is still pursuing Rodgers. It had been expected around the league, per Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz, the Steelers would have an answer from the future Hall of Famer by the draft. With that not happening, the Steelers need to cover their bases. On that note, they have also done work on potential Day 3 options in Syracuse’s Kyle McCord and his Ohio State successor (Will Howard), per ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler.

More notably, Fowler adds the Steelers want to take a QB swing in one of the next two drafts. That could create the illusion of flexibility, though if Rodgers does not show in Pittsburgh, Rudolph would move to the front of the line if the Steelers do not make a first- or second-day addition. Cousins, then, would become insurance against Rodgers balking at a longstanding Pittsburgh offer. Would the Steelers make a preemptive play for the Falcons backup if they lose patience with Rodgers?

Offering a final wrinkle here, Schultz adds Arthur Blank could also opt to keep Cousins (after presumably not seeing other teams agree to take on much salary). Several sources inform Schultz that Cousins could be effectively held hostage (a well-paid hostage, but still) as Michael Penix Jr.‘s backup. Considering Penix’s injury past, the Falcons considering Fontenot’s previous decree to retain Cousins as QB2 has some merit.

This would drain a year from Cousins’ career, his age-37 season, while giving the Falcons insurance ahead of a smoother 2026 release. It would stand to reason we still have plenty of Cousins updates to come between now and this potential reality.

Aaron Rodgers’ Age, Durability Were Giants’ Biggest Concerns

April 20th, 2025 at 10:03pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Giants seriously considered pursuing Aaron Rodgers, but concerns about his age and durability were too significant for team president John Mara to move forward with a potential signing, according to Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post.

General manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll preferred Rodgers to the other quarterbacks available in free agency, but Mara needed to be convinced. Rodgers has a reputation as an intense personality in the locker room with no shortage of off-field controversies

The Giants reached out to three members of the last Jets regime – head coach Robert Saleh, general manager Joe Douglas, and defensive backs coach Marquand Manuel – who said that Rodgers was “no problem in the locker room,” per Dunleavy. (Manuel was hired in January as the Giants’ new defensive pass game coordinator.) There was no way around the mercurial quarterback’s attention-grabbing words and antics, but the team was willing to overlook that, especially for how cheap Rodgers would be.

What the Giants could not get past, according to Dunleavy, was the potential for Rodgers to miss time this season due to injury. Mara has repeatedly expressed his lack of patience with the team’s lack of results in the last two years, and Rodgers showed signs of limited mobility in 2024 after tearing his Achilles a year prior. He’s also openly debated retirement in each of the last few offseason, including this one, making it clear that he’s not a long-term answer at quarterback.

Instead the Giants went with younger players in Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston on incentive-laden one-year deals to see if one can emerge as a plus starter in 2025. They’ve also done their homework on the current draft class and could add a new franchise quarterback next week.

Latest On Steelers, Aaron Rodgers; Mike Tomlin High On Shedeur Sanders?

April 18th, 2025 at 12:48pm CST by Sam Robinson

APRIL 18: Members of the Steelers’ organization are anxious to move forward, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones writes. He adds, however, that Pittsburgh remains open to working out a deal – something which may very well take place after the draft. Jones predicts the Steelers’ “cutoff point” on the Rodgers front will come at some time this offseason, but it will likely not be after a rookie is selected (presuming the team takes that route next week).

APRIL 17: Aaron Rodgers broke his silence Thursday, but while he spoke of a disappointing exit meeting with the Jets’ new brass and of his batch of suitors, the high-profile (and high-maintenance) quarterback did not give a timeline for when, or if, he would sign. This leaves the Steelers — the lone team still waiting out this situation — a major question to answer soon. Will they opt to join the Giants in moving on?

That is not out of the question. This might be a situation the team chooses to steer clear of due to the “headache” that has been known to come with employing Rodgers, Sportskeeda.com’s Tony Pauline writes. The Steelers still seem quite interested in Rodgers, to the point their power brokers expressed optimism about an agreement coming to fruition recently. But Pittsburgh’s offer has been on the table for over a month now. With the draft a week away, the team at least needs to have a contingency plan.

Going from Russell Wilson to Mason Rudolph would not qualify as an upgrade for the Steelers, despite the party line of the team being confident in the former Ben Roethlisberger backup and Kenny Pickett replacement. Retirement remains in play for Rodgers, who had alerted the Vikings of his interest in landing there this offseason. The Giants saw the writing on the wall and signed Wilson.

While Rodgers has thrown passes to D.K. Metcalf this offseason, the Steelers may need to come out of this draft with a starter-caliber option. Otherwise, the Rudolph insurance option may become necessary. Joe Flacco rejoining the Browns, and the Falcons are still wanting a suitor to pay a sizable portion of Kirk Cousins‘ 2025 salary in the event of a post-draft trade. That is believed to be an issue for the Steelers.

Rodgers did not give the Steelers an ultimatum regarding their draft strategy, as he would qualify as likely a 2025-only solution if he were to sign. This would not stand to affect the Steelers in the draft, though had Rodgers committed already, the team could certainly have the freedom to bolster its roster around the aging QB in the first round. Instead, the prospect the team uses a first-round pick on a quarterback has been bandied about for weeks. Ely Allen’s PFR mock draft sends Shedeur Sanders to Pittsburgh at No. 21, and Pauline points to that scenario being one the team’s highest-profile staffer may well endorse.

Mike Tomlin is a Sanders supporter, per Pauline, who adds the 19th-year HC would be “in favor” of drafting the Colorado prospect. Sanders detractors have pointed to a lack of high-level traits worthy of a first-round pick, with the QB not resembling his Hall of Fame father-turned-coach in terms of athleticism. Sanders has received praise for his accuracy and toughness, but concerns about his upside have led to doubts about the former Division I-FCS recruit finding a top-10 landing spot.

Unless the Browns and Giants are conducting elaborate smokescreen operations, Abdul Carter and Travis Hunter (in some order) will go off the board after Cam Ward. The Raiders, Jets and Saints could be in play for Sanders, but rumors are pointing those franchises elsewhere. This could leave a door open for the Steelers, though their situation — one Rodgers’ indecision has illuminated — leaves them vulnerable to a team trading in front of them at No. 21 and snagging Sanders. Tomlin-Jalen Milroe connections had formed earlier this offseason, but Pauline adds the accomplished HC sees potential in Sanders.

It does not sound like a Sanders pick will be a must for Tomlin and Pittsburgh, but if he is still on the board at No. 21, this connection will be quite relevant. Pittsburgh is not known for moving up in Round 1, though the franchise has done so twice in the past six drafts (for Devin Bush and Broderick Jones). That would be a scenario to monitor if Sanders falls past the Saints at No. 9.

The Steelers would have options in Milroe, Jaxson Dart, Tyler Shough and Quinn Ewers. Though, Derek Carr‘s updated situation creates uncertainty regarding the Saints’ direction. New Orleans wants to leave this draft with a quarterback. The Steelers probably need to as well, in the event their Rodgers’ pursuit goes bust.

Load More Posts