Will Aaron Rodgers Leave the Steelers in Darkness?
The contact period for free agency started almost a week ago, and the Pittsburgh Steelers still don’t have an answer at quarterback. Aaron Rodgers continues to hold the Steelers hostage, as the four-time league MVP leisurely ponders his NFL future.
The Steelers signed Mason Rudolph as an insurance policy, but what happens if Aaron Rodgers leaves the Steelers in darkness and signs with the Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants, or just retires? What do the Steelers do then? Sign Jameis Winston or trade for Kirk Cousins to compete with Rudolph? Bring back Russell Wilson? Yeah, all of those options leave a lot to be desired.
Rodgers, J.J. McCarthy, the Steelers and New York Giants are reportedly waiting on Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell to make a decision if the Vikings are going to pursue the 41-year-old quarterback. This appears to be the biggest road block, according to a report by The Athletic.
“After conversations with more than a dozen league sources, this is where Rodgers, the Vikings and two other teams courting the 41-year-old quarterback the New York Giants and Pittsburgh Steelers stand. Rodgers is hoping to sign with the Vikings,” The Athletic report stated, which was written by Mike Sliver, Dianna Russini and Alec Lewis.
The Athletic also notes that Rodgers is seeking an annual salary in the same range as Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (annual value of $33.5 million).
There are conflicting reports on the Vikings being the front-runner to land Rodgers, however. NFL insider Benjamin Allbright reports that the Vikings have no interest in Rodgers even though he’s interested in them.
Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports is also hearing that the Vikings are not all-in on Rodgers. They want to ride with their young quarterback J.J. McCarthy.
“While there have been murmurs about the Vikings and Rodgers, I have not gotten the sense Minnesota wants to go in that direction,” Schultz wrote. “After losing backups Daniel Jones and Nick Mullens in free agency, the Vikings will likely add a veteran to their QB room at some point as they prepare 2024 first-rounder J.J. McCarthy.”
It seems like Rodgers’ looming decision is still very much in the air. And who knows when that decision will be made. Only Rodgers does. The Steelers better just hope they don’t get spurned, as it would not be a good look for general manager Omar Khan. It would be like the Brandon Aiyuk situation all over again.