As the Pittsburgh Steelers opened OTAs on Tuesday, one thing was noticeably missing—Aaron Rodgers. The team has been holding its breath, waiting for word from the four-time MVP on whether he’ll don the black and gold in 2025.
His absence at OTAs was no surprise, but it certainly didn’t ease the anxiety surrounding Pittsburgh’s quarterback crisis.
Rodgers met with the Steelers back in March following the team’s dramatic offseason overhaul. Russell Wilson and Justin Fields were shown the door, and Pittsburgh was left with a quarterback depth chart that went from shaky to downright bleak. The addition of Will Howard in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft added some intrigue.
But let’s be honest—it didn’t solve the problem.
This is where Kirk Cousins entered the conversation, at least quietly. Pittsburgh has reportedly kept tabs on the veteran quarterback as a contingency plan if Rodgers decides to retire. But each passing day makes that backup plan less realistic.
Cousins, now 36, isn’t the elite answer anyone dreams of, but he’s certainly better than nothing. After a lukewarm debut with the Atlanta Falcons in 2024 and the drafting of Michael Penix Jr., the writing is on the wall. Cousins might not be the long-term answer in Atlanta.
The Pittsburgh Steelers cannot afford to trade for Kirk Cousins in 2025
Pittsburgh could be a fresh start. But there’s a catch—actually, a $37.5 million catch.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler shed some light on the matter this week, saying, “I had some conversations with people this week that led me to believe that Cousins is at the very least on the Steelers' radar if something fell through with Rodgers.”
That alone is enough to make some Steelers fans uneasy.
Even worse? “Cousins has a $35.7 million in guaranteed money between this year and next year,” Fowler added. “Atlanta will need a team to offset this.”
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That’s the kicker. Pittsburgh doesn’t need another financial albatross, especially for a quarterback whose 2024 performance was average at best. Betting big on Cousins feels like forcing a move out of desperation, not strategy.
So here we are—still waiting. The Rodgers question remains unanswered, and each day without clarity feels like a missed opportunity. The Steelers need leadership under center, but Kirk Cousins isn’t the savior they’re hoping for. Rodgers is the only name worth waiting on.
Let’s hope the wait isn’t in vain.