It’s no secret that the Pittsburgh Steelers need to decide what the heck is going on at quarterback. The position has been in disarray ever since Ben Roethlisberger retired several seasons ago. Pittsburgh has tried multiple approaches to fix the QB problem and in the 2025 season, they brought in Aaron Rodgers, albeit a 42-year-old version of him. Rodgers performed solidly, showing flashes of his four-time MVP self, but he is not the long-term answer even if he returns in 2026.
Caitlyn Epes / Arizona Cardinals
Former Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray runs onto the field before a game.
One exciting opportunity emerged when the Arizona Cardinals informed Kyler Murray he would be released once the new league year begins on March 11. With Murray now a free agent and the Cardinals forced to cover the bulk of his salary, similar to what happened when Pittsburgh acquired Russell Wilson while the Denver Broncos paid most of his 2024 salary, the Steelers could run that experiment again. This time, however, it would be with Murray, the former 2019 first overall pick, who still has the talent and upside to become a franchise quarterback.
NFL insider Mike Florio revealed on 93.7 The Fan that the Steelers are expected to miss out on this prime opportunity with Murray, and it all comes down to Rodgers. His presence and potential return appear to be standing in the way of Pittsburgh pursuing a younger quarterback who could secure the position for the next decade. For a team still searching for stability at the most important position on the field, this could prove to be a costly decision.
"I am not surprised by any of it and the Steelers are assuming the same position they were in last year," Florio said while speaking on 93.7 The Fan on Wednesday afternoon. "Hey Aaron, we are here whenever you wanna show up. They will develop Will Howard and take advantage of the OTAs, the three phases of the offseason program, to get Will Howard ready. If they truly are all in with Will Howard, we will find out after the [NFL] Draft."
Florio believes Pittsburgh is making a big mistake by missing out on a player like Murray at the quarterback position for such a small risk of $1.3 million. When speaking about quarterback money, this is a former first overall pick who made two Pro Bowls and has shown flashes at times.
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Steelers Head Coach Mike McCarthy and quarterback Aaron Rodgers during their time with the Green Bay Packers in the 2014 NFC Championship.
With Mike McCarthy now the head coach, Murray could start from day one as a veteran QB McCarthy could develop, but the Steelers want to wait on Rodgers.
"They seem to be fully content to let him do whatever he wants to do," Florio said. "It's kind of surprising because they are gonna miss out on the first wave of guys. They could do Russell Wilson all over again and get Kyler Murray for $1.3 million and stick the Cardinals with his massive balance that he's owed next year. And have a guy who comes in and potentially plays this year and maybe carves out a place in Pittsburgh, but they do not wanna do that. They wanna wait and see what Aaron ultimately decides to do."
Steelers Should Have More Interest In Kyler Murray
No one is saying Murray is a star quarterback at this stage in his career, but at 28 years old, the idea of him in a new, stable environment like Pittsburgh with McCarthy at the helm should be much more appealing than it currently is.
Matt Freed / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Ex-Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray makes a throw against the Steelers during the 2023 NFL regular season.
The way Omar Khan and McCarthy are operating while waiting on Rodgers puts the Steelers at serious risk of missing out on a rare opportunity in the NFL, one that does not come around often. Until then, they have Will Howard and Mason Rudolph in their QB room.
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