New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek is going to retire as the Pittsburgh Steelers wait and wonder about Aaron Rodgers.
As the Pittsburgh Steelers wait for quarterback Aaron Rodgers to make his decision, they’re left to prepare for life with Mason Rudolph under center or, perhaps, a rookie quarterback.
Even so, for some time, the Steelers seem like the best fit, if not the only fit, for Rodgers. Few teams have open spots under center, and few viable options are on the board so late in the offseason. He had a successful visit with the facility, worked out with receiver DK Metcalf, and seems to be a strong fit in offensive coordinator Arthur Smith’s scheme.
And yet, no deal has been reached, begging the question of why Rodgers has pushed off such a decision.
Some think it’s a matter of money. Others suggest he’s waiting for another opportunity to arise.
If the latter is true, the door may have opened on Saturday.
New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek is dealing with a shoulder issue that has pushed him into the shocking decision to retire.
If Rodgers wants to spend his final season(s) in the Bayou, New Orleans figures to be in play. ... with NFL Network's Ian Rapoport recently making that suggestion.
"Aaron Rodgers is the best quarterback available. I think everyone assumes he's going to Pittsburgh," Rapoport said. "He hasn't made a decision. Pittsburgh, I think, is a better team. I would imagine the Saints would look at him. I'd imagine, I wouldn't know. How willing would he really be to go there knowing where the roster is?
"It isn't in a bad place, but it's not where the Steelers are."
The biggest appeal the Saints can offer is the division they play in. The NFC South isn’t at its deepest valley – the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are consistently competitive and the Atlanta Falcons should be better – but it’s not the AFC North, with two titans under center and the assumption that Pittsburgh will come in third place.
But if Aaron wants to win?
The Steelers roster is better virtually across the board. The offensive line is better, the receiving corps has more upside, and the defense is far more consistent. How that figures into Rodgers’ calculus isn’t clear.
There is also this: It also stands to reason that New Orleans might not want Rodgers to save their season.
Perhaps Carr’s injury is the final straw for the Saints’ endless mediocrity. It’s an opportunity to hit the reset button. To tank without tanking. To end the madness that is their cap situation.
New Orleans might not embrace that path. Rodgers might not embrace Pittsburgh.
And so the more that happens ... in some ways, the less we know.
