With the first pick, the NFL media selects a resolution to the Aaron Rodgers saga.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said on Monday that while there is no official deadline, it would make sense for Rodgers to decide if he will sign with the Steelers by the time the NFL draft starts.
“I would not be surprised if there was an announcement from him over the next couple weeks,” Rapoport said on “Good Morning Football.”
“It has to be — theoretically — before the draft, because if the Steelers don’t get an answer by late April, they will likely draft a quarterback. In fact, they may draft a quarterback anyway.”
Pittsburgh hosted Ole Miss quarterback prospect Jaxson Dart last week and could elect to take him with the No. 21 pick.
If they are enamored with Dart, they could select him with or without Rodgers in tow, however knowing the future Hall of Famer’s decision would make the draft day call easier for the Steelers.
The Steelers are Rodgers’ last-known option with the Vikings committed to JJ McCarthy and the Giants moving on by signing Russell Wilson, who was the Steelers’ starting quarterback last season.
“The Minnesota Vikings were very clear that Aaron Rodgers, as of right now, is not an option for them — they are moving full-speed ahead with JJ McCarthy,” Rapoport said. “There are no other spots, so if Aaron Rodgers is going to play football in 2025, it is going to be for the Pittsburgh Steelers.”
It’s been a month since the Jets released Rodgers and the 41-year-old still has yet to announce a decision, even as the rest of the quarterback free agency dominoes have fallen around him.
While they are still looking around the market of quarterbacks — and brought back veteran backup Mason Rudolph — the Steelers are ultimately expecting Rodgers to come aboard.
“There has been a lot of smoke about this decision,” Rapoport said. “We just came from the NFL owners meetings in Palm Beach and we had several Steelers people, including [Steelers owner] Art Rooney himself, talk about the positive momentum toward a deal between the Steelers and Aaron Rodgers. Basically saying that he believed it was going in the right direction.”
Pittsburgh expects Rodgers to sign with the franchise — but how long is the franchise willing to wait?
“[Rooney] wanted a decision sooner rather than later, he’s not impatient, but eventually he will be,” Rapoport added. “[Head coach] Mike Tomlin, [general manager] Omar Khan, all sort of said the same thing — they would love [Rodgers], they would welcome him, they want him — they haven’t put a deadline on it yet and they are waiting.”
It’s unclear what Rodgers is waiting for, as the only other option now seems to be retirement.
“The specter of retirement, possible retirement, doesn’t seem likely but at least would be considered an option until he makes a decision,” Rapoport said.
