Even though they’re the last team standing in the sweepstakes, it is not a foregone conclusion that Aaron Rodgers will choose the Pittsburgh Steelers as his next destination in free agency.
During an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” last week, Rodgers revealed that he still hasn’t made a decision and noted that retirement remains an option for him. Rodgers did say, however, that he isn’t waiting for another team, so it appears to be Pittsburgh or bust for him.
“I’m open to anything and attached to nothing,” Rodgers said. “Retirement could still be a possibility, but right now my focus has been — and will continue to be — on my personal life. And that’s what I’ve told the coaches. There’s still conversations that are being had. It’s all been very honest lines of communication.”
In the event Rodgers decides to retire or the Steelers simply don’t want to wait any longer, the team needs to have a contingency plan in place. Many people believe that’s drafting a quarterback in the 2025 NFL draft, but the team could also spring for a veteran who can be a bridge for the coming season.
One of those potential veteran options is Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins, who was recently suggested as a potential target for the Steelers by CBS Sports’ Jeff Kerr if Rodgers decides to retire or the Steelers ditch the waiting game.
“While the Steelers await for Aaron Rodgers to make a decision, Cousins could certainly be a backup plan as a veteran mentor for a young quarterback,” Kerr said. “Pittsburgh is very likely to draft a quarterback in the early rounds of the draft, someone who could compete with Mason Rudolph for the starting job.
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“Even with a rookie quarterback, the Steelers have too many pass catchers to allow a rookie or Rudolph to start Week 1,” Kerr added. “Cousins may entertain the possibility of Pittsburgh if he feels a starting job is in his grasp, and one he can maintain for the entire 2025 season. He’ll still have to compete with a rookie for the job, but is the quality veteran quarterback the Steelers need in their quarterback room.”
While Cousins looked like a shell of himself last season, it’s fair to wonder if he just wasn’t himself in the first season back from a torn Achilles, which is pretty normal for a player coming back from such a serious injury.
In Cousins, the Steelers would have an adequate form of competition for Mason Rudolph, who’s currently penciled in to start if nobody else is brought in. Adding Cousins also wouldn’t preclude the Steelers from drafting a quarterback, as Omar Khan made it quite clear the team plans to carry four into training camp. Skylar Thompson, who is under contract, would be the fourth.
“We discussed in Palm Beach [at the NFL owners’ meetings] a couple of weeks ago [that] we go to [training] camp with four quarterbacks. Right now, we have two on the roster. All options are on the table on how we acquire those last two,” Khan revealed Tuesday. “I assure you we’ll have four when we get to Latrobe [for training camp].”
One thing that could prevent the Steelers from going after Cousins is his contract. The four-time Pro Bowler still has three years left on his $180 million deal, so the Steelers might not be keen on absorbing that on top of having to give up draft capital.
But with the precarious quarterback situation the Steelers are in, we can’t rule it out.
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