The Pittsburgh Steelers have been anxiously anticipating news from Aaron Rodgers regarding which team the veteran quarterback will choose to join.
As his choices are narrowing down and after a workout with one of the newest Steelers wide receivers, DK Metcalf, indications are increasingly suggesting that Rodgers may end up in Pittsburgh.
Many have expressed their disapproval of Rodgers’ singing, pointing to his age and subpar performance over the last two years with the New York Jets. Among the critics is Colin Cowherd, who claims that Rodgers is nowhere near the solution the Steelers require.
On Tuesday, Cowherd discussed Rodgers’ suitability for the Steelers’ quarterback requirements on FS1’s The Herd. Cowherd stated that he believed the Steelers had additional needs beyond just lacking a quarterback, and that Rodgers wouldn’t address the team’s issues.
“It’s acceptable to take on a quarterback past their prime, but they shouldn’t be a safety net.” Aaron Rodgers, in my opinion, resembles a water bottle amidst a house blaze. On the offensive side, there is a lack of substance. There is no sense of self. Najee Harris mentioned it. “There is no culture.”
If the Steelers were to bring Rodgers on board, it would merely serve as a short-term fix for their issues. Any agreement with the 41-year-old quarterback would be temporary, meaning the Steelers would probably need to find a new signal-caller as soon as next season.
Cowherd’s evaluation of Rodgers as being beyond his peak is among the easiest points to make in the conversation about the quarterback’s next destination. Nevertheless, it holds a significant amount of truth, and the Steelers would need to see signing Rodgers as a temporary investment.
In addition to the requirement for a starting quarterback, the team encounters other deficiencies in its lineup, particularly on the defensive line and at running back.
Following Najee Harris’s exit, it’s been uncertain whether offseason acquisitions such as Kenneth Gainwell can adequately assume his responsibilities as a playmaker for the team.
Gainwell served as a backup with the Philadelphia Eagles last season and is expected to compete for a starting position on Pittsburgh’s roster in 2025.
Conversely, the Steelers’ defensive line has faced criticism, and numerous observers believe the team will select a defensive lineman with their first-round pick at the end of April.
Since the Steelers lack a second-round pick (because of the Metcalf trade), they must ensure their first selection is significant, allowing for minimal mistakes.
Steelers and Rodgers Require One Another
Due to the departure of quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Justin Fields in free agency, Rodgers might be the top and possibly last choice for the team as a starting quarterback by September.
No matter what unfolds with Rodgers, the Steelers could still choose to select a quarterback in the 2026 draft to assume the role after Rodgers presumably retires.
It would need to involve the team’s first-round selection, since talented quarterbacks are limited in the upcoming draft. It’s probable that if the Steelers select a quarterback, they will serve as Rodgers’ backup in 2025.
Perhaps Rodgers will come to understand that, considering his age, he is not the valuable player he used to be, and he will need to accept a reduced role with the Steelers.
Nonetheless, what Rodgers chooses is difficult to foresee and is currently known only to the quarterback himself. From Rodgers’ viewpoint, the Steelers could be his final opportunity to exit on a positive note.
The quarterback has limited time left in his career, and a 5-12 record with the Jets would be a frustrating way for the former Super Bowl winner to conclude his journey.