Based off the latest Aaron Rodgers report, it appears that the Pittsburgh Steelers can be ruled out of the sweepstakes.
Initially on Friday night, it appeared that a report from NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport was just another “Aaron Rodgers has yet to make up his mind on where to play in 2022” report. However, he did clarify it during the NFL Combine.
Rapoport said that Rodgers is “going back and forth” with his decision. Obviously the “back” was the Green Bay Packers. When Rich Eisen asked who the “forth” was, Rapoport said “it was always the Denver Broncos.”
With this latest update, Pittsburgh Steelers fans hoping that the team would trade for Rodgers can put that dream to rest.
Latest Aaron Rodgers update eliminates Steelers from sweepstakes
As Rapoport said, the link between Rodgers and the Broncos has gone on since the trade rumors began. That connection has only grown this offseason after Denver hired former Green Bay offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett as their new head coach.
Yes, the Steelers have shown to be an aggressive team at times (i.e. trading up for linebacker Devin Bush in 2019, acquiring defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick from the Miami Dolphins). Rapoport’s latest update on the Steelers mentions that retiring general manager Kevin Colbert is looking at all options to find Ben Roethlisberger’s replacement.
Yet, it sounds like Rodgers is choosing between playing for either the Packers or Broncos in 2022.
The Steelers have in-house options at quarterback in Mason Rudolph and Dwayne Haskins. But, they have already been linked to free agent and former Chicago Bears starter Mitchell Trubisky. Not to mention that there are still options available on the trade block, with Jimmy Garoppolo of the San Francisco 49ers being brought up as a possibility for Pittsburgh. Plus, they have the No. 20 pick in the NFL Draft, which they can use to take a top quarterback prospect.
Pittsburgh has to find their new starter for the first time in nearly 20 years, and from the sounds of it, it won’t be Rodgers.