Aaron Rodgers’ offseason saga feels like it may never end. We’re now in mid-April — less than a week from the NFL Draft — and the veteran quarterback still hasn’t made a clear decision about his future.
While most teams have already figured out their quarterback plans for 2025, the Pittsburgh Steelers seem to be hanging on to hope that Rodgers will sign with them. One Super Bowl champion and current NFL analyst says Pittsburgh’s approach is a mistake. He believes the team has backed itself into a corner by waiting too long for Rodgers.
What Will the Pittsburgh Steelers Do With Their Quarterback Situation?
On Thursday, April 17, Aaron Rodgers appeared on “The Pat McAfee Show” and said he still hasn’t made a decision — and isn’t in a hurry to do so. For the past couple of months, Rodgers has been linked to the Steelers, thanks to his connection with head coach Mike Tomlin and a reported positive meeting with the team.
Meanwhile, teams like the New York Giants, New York Jets, and Seattle Seahawks have already figured out their quarterback situations for 2025 — two of them now starting former Steelers QBs. But Pittsburgh is still waiting on Rodgers, with no backup plan besides possibly drafting a rookie.
Chris Canty called out the Steelers’ plan on “Unsportsmanlike“, saying they’ve put themselves in a bad spot by relying too much on Rodgers.
.@ChrisCanty99 doesn’t understand why the Steelers voluntarily backed themselves into this quarterback situation. pic.twitter.com/Cc1FsY9NFR
— UNSPORTSMANLIKE Radio (@UnSportsESPN)
“I don’t understand why the Pittsburgh Steelers voluntarily back themselves into this corner,” Canty said. “I don’t understand how we’ve gotten to the place where there’s so much uncertainty, so much ambiguity around what they’re doing at the quarterback position, and we’re on the eve of the NFL Draft.
“You would like to know whether or not you’ve got your quarterback so you can set your draft board and know the other positions your team has to address — especially early on, when you’re looking at premium picks expected to start right away. I don’t understand why Mike Tomlin and Omar Khan, their general manager, would let it get to this point.”
Reports say Pittsburgh is waiting on Rodgers, but that might not tell the whole story. The Steelers hold the No. 21 pick in the draft, giving them a shot at a quarterback like Shedeur Sanders from Colorado or Jaxson Dart from Ole Miss — both seen as possible long-term starters.
Still, if they want one of the top quarterbacks, Pittsburgh may have to trade up. Draft night is unpredictable, and teams often jump the line to get their guy.
“If you’re the Pittsburgh Steelers,” Canty added, “Aaron Rodgers is going into his age-42 season. I don’t know why you’d think things would go better with you than what we saw at the end in Green Bay and with the New York Jets this past year.”
Rodgers’ most recent season with the Jets wasn’t great. His stats were solid — 3,897 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions — but the Jets struggled. The team often looked flat, like they had no energy or direction.
Whatever the Steelers decide, they need to act fast. The NFL Draft is less than a week away. If Rodgers is part of the plan, they need to get on the same page. If not, they may be turning to a rookie quarterback in 2025.
