The Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback situation has been the story of the offseason. The team has gone all-in on pursuing 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers, with all signs pointing toward him being the Steelers' starting quarterback for the 2025 season. However, even with Rodgers' potential arrival, Pittsburgh must look beyond the immediate future. As the franchise prepares for the possibility of a 2025 season with the future Hall of Famer, they must continue evaluating young quarterback talent.
This is why the Steelers are doing their homework on top quarterback prospects in the 2025 draft class. Pittsburgh recently hosted Shedeur Sanders, a highly regarded quarterback in this year's draft, for a pre-draft visit. While the move seemed routine—a chance to assess the talent available—it has sparked more speculation within NFL circles about the team's long-term plans at the position. The Steelers know they can't focus solely on one season; they need a strategy that ensures long-term success.
NFL insider Ian Rapoport recently shed new light on the situation during an appearance on Good Morning Football. Rapoport suggested that the visit to Sanders wasn’t just about evaluating talent—it was also a clear message to Rodgers. According to Rapoport, the Steelers are essentially telling Rodgers to make a decision quickly, signaling they aren’t willing to wait forever. The move not only shows their due diligence but also hints at a sense of urgency regarding the team's quarterback situation.
"I don't think this is a message to Aaron Rodgers," Rapoport said Wednesday. "The Steelers don't need to do that. But if it was, I would say the message is you are now on the clock. Because the Steelers have been very patient with Rodgers. Free agency was a thousand years ago. It was so freaking long ago."
Rapoport began by carefully hedging his remarks, as most insiders do when discussing Rodgers. Rodgers is known for keeping his plans close to the vest, and he enjoys the fact that few insiders can get a clear read on his next moves.
However, Rapoport did point out that the Steelers' actions, including the visit with Sanders, clearly signal their intent to protect themselves. It’s evident that Pittsburgh is making sure they have options, regardless of what Rodgers decides.
"By the Steelers bringing in Shedeur Sanders, they made two points," Rapoport said. "One, if Rodgers doesn't come to the Steelers, they're probably going to have to draft a quarterback somewhere. And the other part of this is like, 'Rodgers, if you tell us after the draft, we're gonna have to protect ourselves.' So he's a little bit on the clock too."
In the case of Rodgers, many Steelers fans are growing frustrated with the prolonged waiting game. They believe Rodgers has had more than enough time to make his decision and is simply dragging it out to bask in the spotlight. Whether that's true or not remains to be seen, but one thing is certain—this Pittsburgh roster, with Rodgers at the helm, could certainly be considered a contender.
Steelers Waiting On Aaron Rodgers Is Hurting The Overall Roster
The message here is clear. If Rodgers announces he's joining the Steelers soon, Pittsburgh can shift their focus to adding talent and addressing roster needs in the draft. However, if the team continues to wait and speculate on his decision, it could cost Rodgers a valuable weapon for the 2025 season, potentially delaying their path to contention.
Art Rooney II made a direct statement, emphasizing that Pittsburgh isn’t willing to wait forever. The Steelers are clearly growing weary of the Rodgers saga, and his indecision may have already had an impact on their offseason plans. Rodgers’ reluctance to make a decision has likely hurt the team in free agency, as potential signees may be hesitant to join a team without clarity at quarterback. Regardless, the message is simple: the sooner Rodgers commits, the better it will be for Pittsburgh’s chances of adding talent and building a competitive roster in the draft.
