Could Aaron Rodgers be an option for the Steelers in 2022?

The Pittsburgh Steelers could be in need of a new quarterback in 2022 and current Green Bay Packers signal-caller Aaron Rodgers might be available.

On Thursday night, the Pittsburgh Steelers were among the teams who didn’t end up making a selection the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft thanks to their decision to trade for Minkah Fitzpatrick last season.

However, the Steelers did get to witness the shocking decision made by the Green Bay Packers during the first night of the draft just like everyone else sitting at home. Despite Aaron Rodgers being under contract until 2024, the Packers decided to trade up in the first round to select former Utah State signal-caller, Jordan Love.

With Green Bay having a number of other needs, most were shocked with their choice to add a quarterback in the first round who likely won’t get a chance to start for the next two years. At the same time, the Packers’ using a first-round pick on Love seems to indicate that Rodgers’ time with the franchise is closer to the end than some might have previously believed.

Realistically, the earliest Green Bay would try to get rid of their current All-Pro quarterback is 2022. The Packers would only be left with around $17 million in dead cap if they were to trade or release Rodgers in 2022, compared to $31.6 million in dead cap in 2021 and $51.1 million this year.

Conveniently enough, 2022 could be when Pittsburgh is in need of a new starting quarterback. Ben Roethlisberger appears to be the Steelers’ guy under center for the next two seasons, but his current deal ends in 2022 and he will be 40-years-old by then.

So whether Roethlisberger decides to retire after the next two seasons or Pittsburgh wants to just head in a different direction, it’s possible that they could pursue Rodgers.

Rodgers will be 38-years-old in 2022, so the Steelers might be more interested in finding a younger solution under center if they don’t have one already on the roster by then. Despite his age, the current Green Bay quarterback could still be productive for whatever team wants to add him in two years.

The Packers could also decide to keep Rodgers around past 2022 and look to trade Love instead. This could be something that might interest Pittsburgh even more if this is what actually ends up happening.

Whatever happens with Green Bay’s quarterback situation during the next two seasons, it seems safe to assume that the Steelers will be one of the multiple teams around the NFL paying close attention.