Steelers Could Pursue Another Veteran Quarterback If Their Attempt To Sign Aaron Rodgers Ends In Failure

The Pittsburgh Steelers face a major decision as offseason training begins: Who will be the team's starting quarterback for the upcoming season? The 2025 NFL Draft has come and gone, and the Steelers are still without a definite answer to who will lead the team. The organization's choosing not to draft a signal-caller in the earlier rounds of the event seems to imply that the team is confident veteran Aaron Rodgers will sign with Pittsburgh. However, Rodgers' decision has only been dragged out longer and longer, with no resolution in sight. With a Rodgers deal feeling less likely by the day, the Steelers may begin to explore other options at QB. Reporter Albert Breer named one veteran quarterback who could be a potential fit to lead the Steelers if they are unable to sign Rodgers.

It feels like for the last several weeks, the rumor mill has gone back and forth with the idea that Kirk Cousins to Pittsburgh could be a real possibility. Breer addressed the Steelers' quarterback situation in Sports Illustrated this past Wednesday. He named Cousins as a potential fit for Pittsburgh if a deal with Rodgers falls apart. If the Steelers are dead set on landing a veteran to lead the team next season, Cousins is the highest-profile quarterback besides Rodgers who has been named in the talks of who Pittsburgh could end up with. 

The last the public heard from Rodgers was in the quarterback's latest appearance on The Pat McAfee Show. During that episode, Rodgers cited issues in his personal life as the reason he hadn't made a decision yet. Breer felt that if Rodgers had made that clear earlier, the Steelers may not have pursued the quarterback so aggressively.

"If whatever Rodgers is working through was enough to press pause on his decision-making process, I can see where the Pittsburgh Steelers would tread lightly," wrote Breer. "The Steelers have signaled, and even publicly expressed, their confidence that Rodgers will wind up on their roster. And if he doesn't, I'd imagine they'd explore a trade for Kirk Cousins. It’d be pretty surprising if they opened training camp with Mason Rudolph."

Cousins has far fewer accolades to his name than Rodgers does. Although Rodgers is undeniably past his prime, he is a Super Bowl Champion and a four-time league MVP. Despite two lackluster years with the New York Jets, Rodgers' track record could give the Steelers confidence that he can still deliver in 2025. Cousins obviously isn't the team's first choice; however, he could prove to be a reliable backup plan.

Cousins himself had a less-than-stellar season with the Atlanta Falcons in 2024. He was benched after what even he admitted was a poor performance. It's not hard to see why the Falcons may be looking to trade Cousins.

Besides the quarterbacks the Steelers have yet to acquire, the team has two on their current roster who may be primed to lead the team if Rodgers doesn't come to Pittsburgh: veteran Mason Rudolph and freshly drafted rookie, Will Howard. The Steelers allowed Rudolph to leave as a free agent at the end of the 2023 season, so it's hard to believe Pittsburgh would see Rudolph as an ideal starter under better circumstances. However, Rudolph may land the starting quarterback spot simply because of a lack of any other serious contender.

Steelers Can Only Blame Themselves For The Team's Latest Quarterback Debacle

The Steelers still seem to be holding out faith that Rodgers will sign with them, but if the gamble doesn't pay off, it could cost Pittsburgh dearly. They allowed both of its starting quarterbacks from 2024, Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, to leave as free agents this offseason. It's likely the team expected to have a replacement locked down by now, but with the draft over and Organized Team Activities (OTAs) about to start, the Steelers have been left scrambling for another top tier quarterback. 

To find their next starting signal-caller, the Steelers may be forced to resort to a backup plan, and Cousins is looking like a likely candidate.

Do you think the Steelers could acquire Cousins if they don't sign Rodgers? Let us know in the comments below!

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