Buckle up, folks! This Aaron Rodgers saga is offering yet another twist and turn that no one saw coming. It’s a straight-up one-on-one tussle between two Northerners on whose gonna land the 4-time NFL MVP. On one side, we have the AFC’s Steelers holding their breadth patiently for Rodgers to commit. Then, there are the NFC’s Vikings, for whom Rodgers might still be waiting. But hold your horses. This latest verdict from Rodgers’ possible preferred destination suggests he doesn’t hold the leverage anymore.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler has revealed something that could be music to the ears of the Steelers. “When I talked to people with the Vikings, this is all but dead for them, essentially. Maybe if he’s available later in the summer they would revisit. But that just seems unlikely at this point. It’s Steelers, retirement, or bust,” Fowler said on SportsCenter. Well, the only way Rodgers could still follow the Brett Favre route is by playing the waiting game. If McCarthy doesn’t play well, then only the Vikings can put an inquiry out for Rodgers. However, the parameters of such a scenario playing out remain almost impossible. Why?
ESPN’s Kevin Seifert had the answer: “McCarthy would have to demonstrate overwhelming evidence this spring that he will not be ready to play this season.” Seifert suggests that either an injury or a complete reversal of skills from McCarthy remains the only scenario right now. So it’s completely up to Rodgers now. Whether he wants to put his NFL career in jeopardy by waiting for someone else’s downfall. Or should he make up his mind and sign with the Steelers?
Breaking down the #Titans #Browns and #Giants options coming out of the pro day circuit, via @JayHarrisESPN on @SportsCenter pic.twitter.com/LxPzc5tWqL
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) April 6, 2025
With the NFL draft closing in on us, the Steelers aren’t going to wait forever. They will want a decision sooner or later. The Steelers have already given him the tour of their facilities. Also, probably made him familiar with their two-time Pro Bowl receiver DK Metcalf. And to add to their efforts of. Tom Pelissero claims Rodgers’ contract parameters are also in place. All he needs to do is come back again and sign those papers.
Once he does, at least he won’t have to content with retirement or bust, as Fowler predicted. Now, apart from those two ESPN journalists who sort of narrowed down Rodgers’ future. There’s another ESPN analyst who has painted somewhat of a contradictory approach to the Steelers’ QB plan in this year’s draft.
Is there any chance of Shedeur Sanders landing in Steel City?
See, the Steelers are positioned at No.21 in the upcoming NFL draft. And the only two QBs who are being touted as the top prospects are almost certain to be picked before the Steelers are on the clock. Still, ESPN’s Adam Schefter has floated a wild idea that may not come true but sounds interesting. He feels the Steelers are only willing to take Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, if not him, then no one. “I was of the mind that Pittsburgh was not taking a quarterback in Round 1. I think the only quarterback that they would consider, me reading between the lines, would be Shedeur,” Schefter claimed.
NCAA, College League, USA Football: Colorado State at Colorado Sep 16, 2023 Boulder, Colorado, USA Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders 2 warms up prior to the game against the Colorado State Rams at Folsom Field. Boulder Folsom Field Colorado USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xAndrewxWeversx 20230916_anw_pl2_0128
If it does happen, it’s going to be a huge surprise. Why? Because if the Steelers were interested in Sanders, why weren’t they present at his Pro Day? They only sent their area scout, Kelvin Fisher, as a sole representative. All 32 NFL teams’ top brass was in attendance at Boulder. However, the Steelers’ front office was nowhere to be seen. No Mike Tomlin or Omar Khan. Not only them. The Steelers didn’t even send a high-ranking executive, any coordinator, or a positional coach.
Their moving on this route only means the Steelers are probably vaguely interested in Sanders. Obviously, he could have been a huge addition to their QB room. Led college football in pass completion percentage (74). Sanders may not have all the traits to go No.1, but expecting him to fall in 21 is too much. “I can’t imagine he’s gonna slide to 21,” Schefter added. So, all signs point to Rodgers yet again. It’s either him or the Steelers might go into the 2025 season with a wobbly QB room. But one thing is for certain—this Aaron Rodgers saga is far from reaching its conclusion just yet.
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