Steelers Now Faced With New Threat In The Aaron Rodgers Sweepstakes

The Pittsburgh Steelers have not had an easy go of things when it comes to acquiring a starting quarterback for the 2025 season. The only moves Pittsburgh has been able to make at the position throughout the 2025 offseason have been reuniting with Mason Rudolph and signing Skylar Thompson. An effort was made elsewhere which included offering a deal to Sam Darnold, attempting to re-sign Justin Fields, and showing interest in Matthew Stafford. The organization hasn't had any luck, and it might lose out on Aaron Rodgers as well.

Rodgers has looked like he would end up in Pittsburgh ever since the first week of free agency. He got serious interest from the Steelers and New York Giants, but the quarterback room in New York is full after signing Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston. 

For weeks, the only realistic destination for Rodgers was Pittsburgh, but that has now changed after a potentially serious injury to New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr. Mike Florio reported on the injury while also bringing up the possibility of Rodgers signing in New Orleans.

"The Aaron Rodgers waiting game just got a little more interesting." Florio wrote. "With Saints quarterback Derek Carr reportedly suffering from a shoulder injury that could impact his availability for 2025, the Saints suddenly need a quarterback. And Aaron Rodgers is the best available free agent. Expect to see a report, sooner than later, that the Saints have reached out. Whether it goes anywhere remains to be seen. However, New Orleans becomes another option for Rodgers."

This possibility comes after news broke that Carr is battling through a shoulder injury that has the potential to keep him out for the entirety of the 2025 season. The Saints and Carr are still evaluating their options, but it doesn't look good for the veteran quarterback. This presents a new opportunity for Rodgers, which should be threatening to Pittsburgh.

The Saints would be doing a disservice if they did not at least reach out to Rodgers about the possibility of signing in New Orleans. He is the best free agent quarterback available, and his options are slim if he wants to continue playing. New Orlean's isn't a very attractive destination for a quarterback in his last year or two of playing, but Florio expects the Saints to make an attempt at landing the four-time MVP.

The injury to Carr is also a sign what could come. Quarterbacks could go down throughout the rest of the offseason, or at the beginning of the 2025 season. This would open up more opportunities for Rodgers, which might be exactly what he is waiting for.

"The situation further underscores the reality that more opportunities could arise, in time." Florio wrote. "Players get injured. The right injury at the right time (which, for the player who gets injured, would be neither) opens a possible door for Rodgers. So it’s the Steelers or maybe the Vikings or maybe the Saints or maybe he keeps on waiting to see if a starting quarterback with a clear-cut contender suffers a season-ending injury."

If Rodgers continues to wait for another opportunity to open up around the league the Steelers need to withdraw their offer and pivot to a different plan. At a certain point the amount of time it is taking Rodgers to ponder his future is just disrespectful, and a historic organization like Pittsburgh shouldn't put up with it.

Steelers Are Threatened By The Saints In More Ways Than One

Not only are the Saints a threat when it comes to signing Rodgers, but the franchise is also 12 picks ahead of Pittsburgh in the 2025 NFL Draft. As the board sits now, they are the last quarterback-needy team picking ahead of the Steelers, and whatever they decide to do could effect Pittsburgh for years to come.

New Orleans is the franchise that could prevent either Shedeur Sanders or Jaxson Dart from falling to 21, and it could also sweep in and sign Rodgers at any minute.

Are you worried about the Saints getting Rodgers? Let us know in the comments below!

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