With the Steelers still left in limbo when it comes to Aaron Rodgers, there's only one clear path left to take at this point. It's time for the Steelers to move on and pull their offer to the future Hall of Famer.
While the thought of bringing in Rodgers for the 2025 season may have made sense initially, and it may even have made sense to wait, waiting just doesn't make sense anymore.
"I'm open to anything and attached to nothing," said Rodgers during Thursday's appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show."
Rodgers was responding to a direct question about whether the Steelers are, in fact, the team he would play for if he decides to continue his career.
And while Rodgers has every right to take all the time he needs, especially if he has personal matters to attend to as he expressed to McAfee, his comments make it seem as if he's far from making up his mind and he's also not even committed to being the Steelers or retirement.
"The lines of communication are open and the people that need to know know what's going on," added Rodgers.
But do they really? Who are the people who need to know what's going on?
It's possible he did give the Steelers an assurance that he will eventually sign during his six-hour meeting with Mike Tomlin, Arthur Smith and others at the Steelers' facility in Pittsburgh last month. That is possible, but how can they trust that from a guy who sounds as if he's not sure he wants to play at all.
Rodgers or not, the Steelers know they need to find a quarterback of the future. They know that Rodgers, who will be 42 in December, would only be a bridge at best. Rodgers did throw for 3,897 yards with 28 touchdowns, granted, the Jets were 5-12 with him under center in 2024.
Pittsburgh will likely be looking to draft a quarterback regardless. However, it's unlikely any quarterback they would draft would be ready to step in and have instant success. Of course, it's happened in NFL history, but it's tough to bank on that as your only hope.
Mason Rudolph is back in town and has proven to be serviceable enough during a stretch in the past. He did go 3-0 with the Steelers back in 2023. But how can you go into a season with Rudolph, a rookie and Skylar Thompson as your quarterback room and expect to be taken seriously in a division that has Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow?
How many more wins would Rodgers really bring the Steelers? One, maybe two at best. If the Steelers keep waiting and he ends up retired or worse—signs elsewhere, what do the Steelers do?
It's time the Steelers look elsewhere and make a play for Kirk Cousins for example. At least Cousins would be a veteran option with experience who is also five years younger than Rodgers. Pittsburgh just can't rely on Rodgers anymore.
It is very possible the Steelers are screwed no matter what. They couldn't convince Matthew Stafford to leave Los Angeles, failed to sign Justin Fields and didn't want Russell Wilson. It's now Rodgers or bust.
Rodgers is an upgrade over what the Steelers have had under center in recent years, but he's far from the four-time MVP player he once was, making him far from worth this wait.
