The Pittsburgh Steelers found their improvement at wide receiver. They made a huge splash by trading for DK Metcalf from the Seattle Seahawks. Now, they should have Metcalf and George Pickens as a strong duo at wideout. They still need a quarterback, though. At this point, it seems like Aaron Rodgers is their best option. Mina Kimes thinks that could be a recipe for disaster.
“Have you guys ever seen how Aaron Rogers reacts when wide receivers don’t run the right routes or maybe do what he expects?” Kimes asked Monday on ESPN’s NFL Live. “You guys watch DK Metcalf and George Pickens play football? That is a potentially very toxic combination of quarterback and wide receivers. I’m just gonna throw that out there.
“They are not, like, stylistically a great fit with the way that he likes to play in some ways. In fact, they’re actually a better fit with Russell Wilson. The ability to attack deep outside the numbers. Not saying that Russell Wilson’s a better quarterback than him. I’m just saying, we were talking about those receivers with that quarterback.”
Kimes probably isn’t wrong. Drama has followed Rodgers over the last few years, including allegedly ruffling some feathers with his receivers. Rodgers expects certain things out of his teammates, and Pickens and Metcalf might give him some issues in that regard.
Metcalf hasn’t even officially arrived in Pittsburgh yet, so it’s probably a little early to judge him. However, he has a history of being temperamental. He hasn’t been afraid to voice his frustrations on the field if things go wrong.
Most Steelers fans are probably well aware of Pickens’ attitude problems. Last year, he committed a laundry list of offenses, including fighting opposing players and having his effort questioned at times. He didn’t seem to have any personal issues with Russell Wilson or Justin Fields, although they also never said anything negative about Pickens.
If the Steelers sign Rodgers, how will he react if Metcalf or Pickens lose their temper? Moreover, how would either of them react if they didn’t like Rodgers’ response? It’s easy to see how the Steelers could look like a powder keg if they signed Rodgers.
Kimes is also correct that Metcalf and Pickens seem to fit Wilson’s playstyle better. His game is centered around launching the ball downfield, and both of them are known for being deep threats. However, that doesn’t mean they can’t fit with Rodgers. He might be used to playing with better route runners, but he doesn’t lack arm strength.
Signing Rodgers might look risky, but the Steelers might not have many better options. They need a quality starting quarterback if they want to be competitive in 2025. After Rodgers, there aren’t many of those on the market. Nothing will likely appease Pickens and Metcalf more than getting them the ball. Rodgers should be able to do that better than most of the other free-agent quarterbacks.
