The Pittsburgh Steelers have been one of the surprising success stories of the 2025 season so far. Going 3-1, their experiment with Aaron Rodgers has worked out so far. Even though the team has failed to impress in any category, the wins are starting to pile up. And in a despondent AFC North, they look like the clear team to beat. However, their timeline is severely limited by the current core.
Rodgers has made it clear that this year could very well be his final year in the NFL. Add a roster that is starting to get older, and the Steelers need to have a contingency plan for what the future could look like. The offense, in particular, will need work, and one analyst believes an easy fix for them is to trade for a young quarterback who still hasn’t solidified himself in the NFL.
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Even with the offseason additions of Rodgers, DK Metcalf, and Jonnu Smith, the offense hasn’t been a world beater. It ranks dead average at 16th on PFSN’s Offense Impact. On his end, the four-time MVP hasn’t been anything close to exceptional.
Rodgers currently sits at 26th on PFSN’s QB Impact this season, behind names like Geno Smith and Justin Fields. However, the formula is leading to success, regardless of how improbable or unexpected it might be.
It is a formula that they might be forced to tweak next season. As explored above, the end of Rodgers’ career is near, or already here. As a result, Josh Well of PFSN believes Pittsburgh should try to find a path to land Anthony Richardson.
With the Indianapolis Colts’ success with Daniel Jones as their starting quarterback, it is hard to see a scenario where Richardson takes back the job, barring a catastrophic injury.
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As a result, in his list of trade targets for every NFL team, Well listed down Richardson as a name the Steelers could go after. Calling him a “modern-day version of Ben Roethlisberger,” Well had two main reasons to make the case for Richardson to Pittsburgh.
“He is a big-bodied quarterback who can make any throw and adds a running dynamic that can make the Steelers really hard to defend against.” His ceiling, or the possibility of achieving his true potential, is a question mark.
But, as Well suggests, “Richardson learning from Rodgers would be great for his development. With no heir to the throne, the time is right now to secure both your now and your future if you are in Pittsburgh.”
An impeccable arm and shrewd athleticism have made Richardson a viable prospect across the league. He hasn’t been able to put it together in Indianapolis, but a change of scenery could be what the doctor ordered to get him over the hump.