Steelers Sign Aaron Rodgers After Draft Dilemma
The Pittsburgh Steelers were initially set to pick a quarterback in the sixth round of the April NFL Draft. However, after selecting former Ohio quarterback Will Howard, questions about the quarterback position only multiplied.
This week, the Steelers seem to have found a temporary fix for their quarterback concerns. They’ve signed four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers to a one-year deal. The 41-year-old is expected to participate in the team’s mandatory minicamp next week. The decision has received its share of praise and backlash, notably from sports commentator Skip Bayless.
In a recent video, Bayless labeled Rodgers a “diva” and expressed skepticism about the remaining talent among veteran quarterbacks. He remarked, “He was washed in Green Bay for his last three years,” referencing Rodgers’ performance in recent playoff games and suggesting that he had already warned the Jets about his decline.
Despite the polarizing opinions, Bayless took the opportunity to comment on the Steelers’ situation, wondering aloud, “What happened to the Pittsburgh Steelers?” His tone seemed to indicate sympathy rather than animosity, reflecting on the team’s struggles as they finished last season with a 10-7 record. Head coach Mike Tomlin has a consistent reputation, always avoiding a losing record in the regular season.
After the Steelers’ playoff loss to the Baltimore Ravens last January, they made significant changes, including starting Justin Fields for the first five games of the 2024 season before Russell Wilson stepped in. Meanwhile, Fields has already joined the Jets this offseason.
Rodgers’ performance has seen ups and downs, especially since leaving Green Bay, where his last playoff appearance was in January 2022. He ended 2024 with 28 touchdowns but also had 11 interceptions, recovering from a season-ending injury in the first game of 2023.
Following a stint with the Tennessee Titans, the Steelers also re-signed Mason Rudolph, but there seems to be uncertainty about the quarterback position moving forward into 2025.
