Fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers might not be thrilled with Aaron Rodgers as Pittsburgh's top free-agent choice for the starting quarterback spot. That sentiment appears to be shared by most of their fan base as Steelers general manager Omar Khan attempts to navigate choppy waters. They are without a starting player in the most vital position in football. It puts them in a troublesome spot.
Justin Fields is gone, and Russell Wilson might be their final choice by default. Rodgers is coming off a respectable stat sheet from last season, but his time with the New York Jets was a travesty. He is searching for a new home, which he hopes will take him into retirement. The 41-year-old wants to redeem himself at the end of his career.
Pittsburgh could accept Rodgers on a cheap one-year contract, but that might not be the outcome. According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, Rodgers's next contract could be well above what fans would accept. The future Hall of Fame quarterback wants to win, redeem his career, and get paid before he retires in another season or two.
Get ready Steelers Nation, because this contract could tease a bleak future in Pittsburgh.
Aaron Rodgers' contract expectations could scare the Pittsburgh Steelers out of a deal
Florio claims both parties should have an agreement soon, and his projected deal could result in a two-year contract. On the surface, they shouldn't give an old quarterback anything more than a one-year deal. Florio not only exposed that Pittsburgh could bend to accept the second year, but they would be willing to pay him massive amounts of cash.
"In Pittsburgh, Rodgers is far more likely to get a second season," Florio wrote. "And he’s far more likely to return to the postseason for the first time since 2022."
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On top of the two-year offer, Florio also threw out a "semi-educated guess" of a value of around $90 million total during the contract's duration with $40 million in guarantees. Many reporters who cover the Steelers have refuted this contract projection for the star-free agent. It would be bold for Khan to consider signing Rodgers to a deal close to that magnitude.
With almost no options to be a reliable starter for Pittsburgh this upcoming season, they have little leverage in negotiations. They are one of the best landing spots when you consider Rodgers and Wilson trying to find a job. They have two top-tier receivers, D.K. Metcalf and George Pickens. They also have a solid defense and never had a losing season with Mike Tomlin as head coach.
It all comes down to Wilson or Rodgers, and things couldn't be bleaker for this franchise.
If Rodgers wants to finish his career with a winning effort, he would be foolish to bypass the Steelers to add some extra cash. Florio has produced mixed educated guesses in the past, and Pittsburgh better hope he is way off in this estimation. They cannot afford to chain themselves to a gun slinger over 40 who has created toxic environments in the past.