The Pittsburgh Steelers have finally agreed to sign up for the Aaron Rodgers roller coaster, which means more than just signing one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. The Steelers must also abide by a set of roster-building rules that Rodgers often tries to implement.
The Steelers are trying to find more role players that can help turn their Rodgers-led offense into a group that will scare the rest of the league. After their Jonnu Smith interest, the Steelers have poked around a veteran wide receiver looking for a new job in former Bills and Jaguars wideout Gabe Davis.
Despite interest between the two parties, Davis and the Steelers left their meeting with one another having not agreed on a contract. The Steelers might be willing to save a spot for one of Rodgers' old buddies, as they could try to acquire New York Jets wide receiver Allen Lazard via trade.
Lazard is likely not going to be viewed as an indispensable player on a Jets team that is clearly angling towards a rebuild, and the Steelers need more wide receivers. It doesn't take a genius to see that Rodgers could pound the table for his guy.
Pittsburgh Steelers let Gabe Davis walk for Aaron Rodgers' buddy Allen Lazard
Lazard managed to catch six touchdowns in 12 games last season and worked his way up a lackluster Jets wide receiver depth chart, but that production bump is what happens when Rodgers is the quarterback and not Zach Wilson. Without Rodgers, Lazard is barely a WR3 at this stage.
Still, Rodgers has a very specific way in which he wants to run an offense, and Lazard has a weird, unspoken bond with Rodgers that helps him fit in well with what No. 8 wants to do. Lazard's 6-4 frame could be a weapon in the red zone, especially if Rodgers is in perfect sync with him.
The Steelers might need to trade a Day 3 pick to the Jets for Lazard, who is once again slated to be their No. 2 wide receiver behind Garrett Wilson. That compensation could be fairly cheap considering the inflated WR market at the time of writing.
The Steelers likely know that Rodgers will try everything he can to ensure that he gets his way when it comes to some very specific conditions on the offensive side, and getting Lazard could be the first of many directives he places on this front office.