The Steelers’ preference entering the negotiating period was to maintain Justin Fields in place as an alternative of Russell Wilson. That plan is not any longer an option for the reason that former agreed to a two-year Jets deal on Monday.
Wilson remains to be available on the market, and he would obviously be a well-known option after spending the 2024 season as Pittsburgh’s starter (when healthy). The Steelers have turn into considered one of the suitors for Aaron Rodgers, nevertheless, and a deal may very well be in place soon. As talks on the Rodgers front proceed, Wilson is just not out of Pittsburgh’s plans yet.
Should the Rodgers negotiations break down, Wilson resides as a fallback option at this point, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. That may be a humbling position for a playoff team’s primary starter to reside, but Wilson looks to produce other options. The Giants and Titans are believed to have an interest, though Latest York can also be in on Rodgers, who cannot officially be released until Wednesday afternoon. The Browns are also believed to still be eyeing a veteran, despite their Kenny Pickett acquisition.
A report Monday night indicated a Rodgers-Steelers deal could go down today, and SI.com’s Albert Breer said during a Wealthy Eisen Show segment the Steelers were fairly confident as of Monday that Rodgers would choose them. The Giants remain in the combination, and Breer expects Rodgers to find yourself in Pittsburgh or to change locker rooms at MetLife Stadium. The Giants have made their pitch and are indeed waiting on Rodgers’ decision, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport notes.
Although a weekend report connected the Vikings to Rodgers — in what can be an eerie parallel to the Brett Favre profession path — Breer indicates he can be surprised if the longer term Hall of Famer leads to Minnesota. That said, Fox Sports’ Ralph Vacchiano doesn’t view the Vikings as out of this mix yet. This case differs from last 12 months’s Wilson decision and what could occur if the Falcons cut Kirk Cousins, as Rodgers could see a notable salary in 2025. The Broncos were already paying Wilson’s salary, while Cousins’ 2025 money is guaranteed as well.
The Steelers and Vikings are coming off playoff seasons and can be higher positioned to enhance Rodgers this 12 months; that said, the Giants have been busy in free agency, most notably re-signing Darius Slayton and adding Jevon Holland and Paulson Adebo. While Minnesota has J.J. McCarthy and Latest York holds the No. 3 overall pick, Pittsburgh could also be committed to a full season of Rodgers if he’s to sign. The Steelers not holding a pick in the highest 20 would stand to present them a bonus for Rodgers, who wouldn’t have to look over his shoulder at a prospect — in all likelihood — were he to decide on Pittsburgh.
As for Wilson, waiting on Rodgers’ talks with the Steelers may not sit too well. The younger of the 2 aging options finished two spots higher in QBR (twenty third to twenty fifth) last season and piloted the team to the playoffs. The Steelers’ late-season collapse, nevertheless, has not reflected well on Wilson, who appears behind Rodgers with the Giants as well.
Decisions should come soon, but Rodgers having this much say in how the QB market plays, at 41 and coming off an underwhelming Jets tenure, is interesting. But teams are still intrigued by the all-time QB talent. He has a transparent path to play a twenty first season and remain a starter.
Adam La Rose contributed to this post
