Two undesirable options Steelers have if they don’t sign Aaron Rodgers

The Pittsburgh Steelers are caught between a rock and a tough place. The arduous place is the uninspiring quarterback room they’ve assembled for the 2025 season, and the rock is the excruciating means of negotiating with Aaron Rodgers.

Till lately, the Steelers have been caught in a holding sample whereas attempting to courtroom the 41-year-old Rodgers. They made a splashy commerce for ex-Seattle Seahawks huge receiver DK Metcalf, presumably to pair him with the gifted however controversial George Pickens and persuade Rodgers that there was a worthy pass-catching duo to throw to in Pittsburgh. 

That modified when the Steelers traded Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys for a 2026 third-round draft choose and a 2027 fifth-round draft choose on Wednesday. Pickens had loads of off-the-field points that gave head coach Mike Tomlin a season stuffed with complications, however the crew misplaced a possible influence participant.

Now, Rodgers’ curiosity in becoming a member of the Steelers could not waver if he additionally feels Pickens was a detriment to the crew. Or he could have a look at the Steelers’ offensive depth chart and lose confidence in a roster with simply Metcalf because the lone playmaker.

So, what are the Steelers’ choices if they do not land Rodgers? The crew might take two paths: both keep on with the present quarterback room or make a commerce for Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins — neither path is fascinating. 

QB competitors between backups

At present, QB1 on the Steelers depth chart is Mason Rudolph, who joined the crew in 2018. At finest, Rudolph is a serviceable backup who can handle a recreation and hope the Steelers’ protection finds a solution to win. Behind Rudolph are backup Skylar Thompson and rookie Will Howard. 

Howard’s MVP efficiency in main The Ohio State College to a 34-23 win over Notre Dame in final yr’s nationwide championship recreation wasn’t sufficient to extend his draft inventory. The Steelers picked Howard within the sixth spherical, an space the place groups get backup quarterbacks they will pay on low-cost rookie offers.