Pittsburgh Steelers fans who were interested in bringing in former Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray, avert your eyes. As expected by many, the Minnesota Vikings are the team that Murray will attempt to reignite his career with, as the two sides agreed to a one-year deal Thursday night.
According to Ian Rapoport, the deal includes a no-tag clause, so Murray will be able to re-enter free agency in 2027 unless he agrees to an extension with Minnesota beforehand.
With the two-time Pro Bowler officially off the market, it puts the Steelers in a tough spot at QB for the 2026 season. Their hopes of an experienced veteran leading the way shrink every passing day, as players like Geno Smith, Tua Tagovailoa, and Daniel Jones have all landed elsewhere. Unless Aaron Rodgers decides to give it one more go, head coach Mike McCarthy's first season may already be headed for disappointment.
It may be Aaron Rodgers or nothing for the Pittsburgh Steelers after Kyler Murray lands with Vikings
Rodgers has been the favorite to be the Steelers' QB in 2026 ever since McCarthy was brought on as head coach, and the Murray decision will only amplify that belief. The best available option after Rodgers at this point may be Kirk Cousins once he is officially released by the Falcons.
Even the biggest Rodgers haters would scoff at the idea of replacing him with a player who is also aging, and, quite frankly, less gracefully than Rodgers has been. That seems like it would only be considered if Rodgers hangs up his cleats.
Even then, the job may be handed to 2025 sixth-round pick Will Howard in that scenario. It's hard to know how much stock fans should put in the praise he has received from McCarthy and general manager Omar Khan this offseason, especially when he hasn't thrown a pass as a professional at this point (not even in the preseason), but it's not nothing.
Khan and McCarthy both stressed that they are going to do their best to stay competitive in 2026, but they may be forced into letting Howard, or perhaps even a rookie QB, be the one leading the offense. Personally, I think that would be the best thing for the future of the franchise, but we all know that's not what they were planning to do.
Unfortunately, it appears the Steelers are back to playing the waiting game with Rodgers, just like they were last offseason.