The Pittsburgh Steelers currently find themselves in a stalemate with one of the greatest quarterbacks in the history of football. As former Green Bay Packer and four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers continues to consider his options in free agency, the Steelers remain optimistic that the future Hall of Fame quarterback will sign in the near future. With the current quarterback room consisting of Mason Rudolph, Skylar Thompson and Will Howard, Pittsburgh is considered to be the clear favorites to land Rodgers.
Adam Hunger / AP Photo
Steelers' top free agent target and former New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers speaking to members of the media.
Despite a horrendous two-year tenure with the New York Jets the past two seasons, Rodgers would still add some major firepower to an underwhelming Steelers offense.
Rodgers, who is more than likely entering his final season, has been rumored to be signing with the Steelers for well over a month now, as fans continue to showcase their frustration towards the former Packer. Many people around the league have weighed in on the lengthy situation as well, as NFL analyst Tom Pelissero expressed his thoughts on an episode of The Rich Eisen Show.
"Here's the thing, Rich. We already got to what I believe is the midnight point several times already with Aaron Rodgers." Pelissero stated. "It was the start of the league meetings when things were moving and the Steelers were making decisions and they were having to answer questions about it, Aaron wasn't ready to commit. I thought the start of draft week would make a lot of sense, it did not end up happening there."
Pelissero continued his reporting and admitted that it is getting extremely late in the offseason. Rodgers has to make a decision soon so all parties involved can get on the same page.
"So now we are into this kind of weird offseason area where yes, ideally you would like Aaron Rodgers to be in for mini camp. Nothing that I've heard leads me to believe that the Steelers don't still expect Aaron Rodgers to be there eventually. He's missed some of the offseason program. He's missing the OTAs starting next week. Minicamp would be the next logical checkpoint here."
With a decision yet to be made and Rudolph currently projected to be the Steelers' starting quarterback in Week 1, the frustration and concern from the fan base continues to grow. After selecting Howard in the sixth round of the draft, the need for a true veteran in the Steelers' quarterback room grows even larger.
Both Rudolph and Howard would prove to be a major beneficiary of Rodgers' presence, as the former Jet is a 20-year NFL veteran who would be an excellent mentor for both young quarterbacks.
Sebastian Foltz / Post-Gazette
Steelers' Mason Rudolph hypes up the crowd in a home game in Pittsburgh.
Steelers Face Depth Issues At Multiple Positions On Offense
While the Steelers face major depth issues in the quarterback room, the team finds itself with similar problems in the wide receiver room as well. After trading star wide receiver George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys, the Steelers have no real wide receiver depth outside of DK Metcalf. Acquired in a trade with the Seattle Seahawks earlier in the offseason, Metcalf is expected to play a major role on Pittsburgh's offense in 2025.
Calvin Austin lll may emerge as a weapon for the Steelers, as he has reportedly looked very solid throughout the offseason. The Steelers may turn towards free agency as well, with many big-name play-makers currently still on the market.
UPI
Steelers' DK Metcalf makes a one handed grab during his time with the Seattle Seahawks.
As the Steelers and the entire NFL world continue to wait for a decision from Rodgers, time continues to run out on the former four-time MVP. With Rodgers expected to skip out on Organized Team Activities (OTAs) at the start of next week, a decision is expected to come from his camp sometime in early June.
Currently 41 years old and entering his 21st NFL season, Rodgers is expected to make a major impact on the Steelers' offense and should benefit mightily from having Metcalf as his wide receiver one.
Do you think Rodgers will sign with the Steelers? Do you trust Rudolph to be the starting quarterback in week 1? Let us know in the comments below!
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