With Russell Wilson off the board in free agency, even more attention is shifting to Aaron Rodgers and his plan for the 2025 season.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have been heavily linked to Rodgers since before the start of free agency. With one of his potential suitors, the New York Giants, likely off the table, the possibility of Rodgers signing in Pittsburgh presumably continues to rise.
How Long Will the Steelers Wait Before They Pivot?
“They will be pretty patient,” said ESPN insider Jeremy Fowler. “My sense is the Steelers remain optimistic here, and they are willing to wait.”
From @SportsCenter: Teams grapple with whether Shedeur Sanders is a true first-round prospect, and Pittsburgh continues to wait at QB while working on draft
With @LRiddickESPN and @aminajadeTV pic.twitter.com/Dnhu0vLmOy
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) March 29, 2025
Rodgers completed 63.0% of his passes for 3,897 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions in 17 games in the 2024 season. However, the stat line wasn’t enough to save the New York Jets from a disappointing 5-12 season.
The Jets released him following the 2024 season, making him a free agent for the first time in his career. Rodgers ranked No. 21 in PFSN’s QB+ metric with a 72.2 (C-) grade. If he plays in 2025, Rodgers will look to improve on those numbers now that he will be another year fully removed from the torn Achilles he suffered in his first game as a Jet in 2023.
“It feels like right now the options are Steelers, retirement, or does he want just to wait three to four months on the Vikings to see if they change their mind, which seems unlikely at this point,” Fowler added.
Neither side appears to be in a rush, and this storyline could drag out into draft week before a resolution is reached.
What are Pittsburgh’s Alternatives at Quarterback?
“I think Pittsburgh, regardless, they have to be doing their homework on the draft-eligible quarterbacks and looking at who they can possibly bring into the fold as a long-term solution,” said ESPN analyst Louis Riddick.
Jaxon Dart of Ole Miss and Tyler Shough of Texas Tech have often been linked to the Steelers as potential draft targets if the team selects one early. Alabama’s Jalen Milroe is another name that has been floated as a possibility for Pittsburgh, more likely as a day-two pick in his case. Milroe and the Steelers’ brass met for dinner before Alabama’s Pro Day, potentially strengthening the case for him as a draft target.
Former Alabama QB Jalen Milroe had dinner tonight in Tuscaloosa with #Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, GM Omar Khan and QBs coach Tom Arth ahead of his pro day, per source.
Pittsburgh, which continues to explore all options at the QB position, owns the No. 21 pick in April’s draft. pic.twitter.com/NSlHIcYakP
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 19, 2025
However, one name that has not been linked much to the Steelers is Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders.
“If he [Sanders] does slip past nine and slips out of the top 10, there’s no way you can tell me that Pittsburgh won’t be eying him, along with Tyler Shough, as they sit down there at 21,” Riddick added.
While Sanders was initially expected to go in the top 10, there’s uncertainty if that will still happen, partially due to the moves made by quarterback-needy teams in the top 10.
The Giants signed Wilson, and the Las Vegas Raiders traded a third-round pick for Geno Smith. While those moves don’t eliminate either as a potential suitor for Sanders, it does mean the teams have options they are presumably comfortable with at the quarterback position.
In 2024, Sanders led the Big 12 in nearly every passing category, completing 74% of his passes for 4,134 yards and 37 touchdowns, averaging 318 yards per game. His 71.8% career completion percentage is an FBS record.
Rodgers and Sanders figure to be major storylines leading up to the NFL Draft. Their landing spots will surely affect the quarterback position for Kirk Cousins and the aforementioned quarterback prospects.