Most NFL teams have their quarterback room completely sorted out by the middle of May, but the Pittsburgh Steelers aren't most NFL teams. A franchise that has prided itself on consistency and execution is now being held hostage by the button-down mind of Aaron Rodgers.
Rodgers will likely be the starting quarterback in Week 1, but his inability to align with Steelers brass and actually hammer out a contract has Pittsburgh in a weird state of limbo. This has prevented Pittsburgh from going full-send on finding other options.
One of the big remaining questions ESPN's Dan Graziano wondered about after the bulk of the offseason had elapsed was why the Steelers didn't make a major upgrade under center. With the Steelers expecting Rodgers to return, yet never finalizing anything, Pittsburgh has been unable to tell Rodgers to take a hike as they look for better options.
The current Steelers depth chart consists of veteran backup Mason Rudolph, 2025 sixth-rounder Will Howard, and a highly-touted rookie in 2026 third-rounder Drew Allar. Steelers fans can arrange that non-Rodgers trio in any order they want, and it would seem somewhat logical.
That's not ideal.
ESPN insider wonders why the Pittsburgh Steelers didn't upgrade at quarterback
Much like his final season with the New York Jets, Rodgers' box score stats obscured some disappointing play. Throwing 24 touchdowns against seven interceptions sounds great, but he is starting to look his age and lose his trademark playmaking out of structure.
Rodgers' short time-to-throw is evidence that he is trying to dispatch the ball as quickly as possible to avoid taking sacks. With his mobility sapped, Rodgers is all about dinking and dunking in a way that is not sustainable when trying to compete for a title. Just ask the Houston Texans about that.
The Steelers are now in a no-win situation. They couldn't make a quarterback move that could have moved the needle, as doing so would have ended their Rodgers pursuit. Even though all parties know he is past his prime and no longer a championship-level quarterback, Pittsburgh is forced to run it back to him.
Pittsburgh will roll into 2026 with the ghost of Rodgers, a milquetoast veteran in Rudolph, and two extremely raw young players in Allar and Howard, who aren't ready to see the field. Mike McCarthy may know his offensive football, but even he has his limits when it comes to which quarterbacks he can work with.
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