Last month, in March, Aaron Rodgers made a sneaky move. He knows the city of Pittsburgh loves him. So, he had to improvise his visit to the AFC North team. He got down at a different airport, drove a rental Chevy Malibu car, and practiced on the backside of the practice field. But his efforts were not enough. The news got leaked. A few reporters were there, but none of them anticipated that the Super Bowl winner would be roaming around the Steel City in a rental car. The disguise worked! So he got through. Almost a month later, the situation hasn’t changed. He refuses to commit, and the Steelers’ HC Mike Tomlin is caught in a tight spot.
NFL insider Tom Pelissero appeared on the April 18 episode of The Rich Eisen Show. They discussed the Steelers’ situation and the importance of his appearance on the Pat McAfee Show. The insider first talked about the scenario 2 years back when A-Rod clearly expressed his desire to join the NY Jets. But this time, he isn’t even convinced about the Steelers.
Pelissero revealed his stance on the team’s stance and said, “If I’m the Steelers, I’m going, ‘All right, we absolutely have to plan now as if this guy is not going to be there’.” That’s the direction in which Mike Tomlin has to walk. Aaron Rodgers not only refuses to commit, he even gave voice to retirement rumors, claiming it is not off the charts.
Credits-Shaun Brooks-Imago Images
That’s not the signature A-Rod. He almost always does what he says. Moreover, his interest in the Vikings also raises red flags (if you’re the oldest tenured head coach in the NFL). But the Steelers are caught in a mess now. With Mason Rudolph their current primary contender under center, they can’t exactly march into the coming season optimistic of a Lombardi. Fans are desperately hopeful that new signal-callers will join them.
As we stand less than a week away from the draft in Green Bay, there are 2 options. Draft or sign a free agent. The second option seems more plausible.
Mike Tomlin interested in 13-year veteran
The best (available) option in the 2025 draft could be Shedeur Sanders. The Steelers front office is happy with what they’ve seen of the Colorado quarterback. The top prospect visited the team facility a few days back and praised HC Mike Tomlin. He even drew similarities between the coach and his father, Deion Sanders. But to draft him, the Steelers will likely have to jump up from the 21st pick in the first round. Else, they will have to settle for a free agent QB or a trade. If the situation comes to that, the Steelers front office will reportedly look at the Falcons‘ Kirk Cousins.
Credits- Jay Bendlin | Atlanta Falcons
However, they will have to wait until the draft, as Cousins is currently on a no-trade clause. Pelissero also questioned the Falcons’ intent towards trading the quarterback. They are in no hurry, forcing the analyst to say, “They’ve wanted a new team to pick up a good chunk of that $27.5 million that Cousins is fully guaranteed this season.”
Apart from that, Mike Tomlin may have to guarantee one more thing: that he will be the starter this year. Cousins signed a four-year, $180 million contract. If the Falcons keep him, they will have to pay $27.5 million. But the problem is that they prefer 2024 eighth-overall pick Michael Penix Jr. as their starting quarterback after he took over for the last few games of 2024. This has changed the dynamics of the locker room.
Position-wise, even the Steelers are not in a very good zone. Can they convince A-Rod or get lucky with the draft? Or will they be forced into last-minute adjustments beyond their preferred choices? That is the question they need answered to define their season, even before setting foot on the gridiron.
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