Steelers Now
NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport thinks the Pittsburgh Steelers are putting pressure on quarterback Aaron Rodgers with their latest move.
The Pittsburgh Steelers haven’t put any timeframe on free agent quarterback Aaron Rodgers to make a decision, but NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport thinks their actions are.
On Tuesday, it was reported that the Steelers will host Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who is widely considered to be one of the top prospects in the entire 2025 NFL Draft class, on a pre-draft visit to UPMC Rooney Sports Complex this week.
It’s a move that will put pressure on Rodgers if he hopes Pittsburgh won’t use high draft capital on another quarterback.
“I would say the message is, ‘You are now on the clock,’ because the Steelers have been very patient with Rodgers. Free agency was a thousand years ago,” Rapoport said on “Good Morning Football.” “By the Steelers brining in Shedeur Sanders, they made two points. One, if Rodgers doesn’t come to the Steelers, they’re probably going to have to draft a quarterback somewhere. And the other part of this is like, ‘Rodgers, if you tell us after the draft, we’re going to have to protect ourselves.’ So he’s a little bit on the clock, too.”
It was a bit of a surprising move by the Steelers after they chose not to send most of their top brass to Boulder for the Colorado pro day last week.
However, Pittsburgh has either changed its mind on the consensus No. 2 quarterback prospect or is hoping it forces Rodgers to make a decision ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Rapoport isn’t alone in that belief. NFL Network draft expert Daniel Jeremiah also thinks that the Steelers’ draft plans hinge on Rodgers’ decision.
If Rodgers doesn’t make his decision by the draft, decides to play elsewhere or retires, quarterback could be very much in play at pick No. 21. But if he finally makes his decision, his new team will likely use its first-round pick to help build around him.
It’s up to Rodgers to decide if he cares, but he didn’t seem to love when the Green Bay Packers drafted quarterback Jordan Love with their first-round pick in 2020. So it’s safe to assume he’d like to avoid a similar situation playing out in Pittsburgh.
The Steelers are outwardly saying it, but Rodgers, you are on the clock.
