The Pittsburgh Steelers remain optimistic about Aaron Rodgers signing with the team, but he is in no hurry to decide. The veteran quarterback has caused the organization to put all their eggs in one basket, which could burn them. They have refused to address other needs in free agency despite having $31.4 million in cap space. The Rodgers saga has forced them into a bad situation.
With the NFL draft about to start, Pittsburgh is desperate to fill a handful of voids. The Steelers will attempt to find resolutions without a second-round pick and the hope that Rodgers will eventually sign with the team. Their waiting game with the veteran quarterback has limited how they can attack weaknesses on their roster.
The franchise dangles the remaining cap space at the quarterback, hoping he eventually signs a contract.
One massive hole along the roster continues to plague the team along the defensive trenches. The defensive line has counted on Cam Heyward for too long, and he continues to age. They cannot count on him to produce like last year. Unless Keeanu Benton is the plan to replace Larry Ogunjobi, the Steelers have more faith in an incoming rookie than any team should.
Pittsburgh Steelers might've missed boat by neglecting Calais Campbell
The Rodgers saga might've pushed the Steelers out of other possible deals in free agency. They should've targeted the defensive line with urgency, but instead, they added some depth players. All the pressure is on their upcoming draft selections to fill that void. They should've done their best to recruit the ageless Calais Campbell to see if he would consider joining to make one final run.
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Campbell signed a one-year contract with the Arizona Cardinals worth up to $7.5 million. That is a respectable deal for the veteran heading into his 18th NFL campaign. He might not be the same player he once was, but Pittsburgh would've been wise to sign him. Maybe he is comfortable sitting in warmer climates and losing, but trying to win something could've spiked his interest.
Even though the veteran will be 39 in September, he hasn't shown a steep decline in his play. Last year with the Dolphins, Campbell totaled five sacks and 12 tackles for loss on his stat line. He might not be an every-down player anymore, but he could've played a vital role for the Steelers' defense. Pittsburgh knows how effective an aging defensive lineman can be, thanks to their experience with Cam Heyward.
It could've taken all the pressure off any incoming rookie. Instead of starting every snap, a rookie could rely on Campbell to mentor him and take some plays when needed. The Steelers decided it was better to roll with depth players and hope an incoming rookie from the upcoming draft can fix their current problems in the trenches.