It never seemed plausible that the Pittsburgh Steelers would find themselves this late into the week that kick-started with the legal tampering window and then the official start of the new league year, and still not have an answer at quarterback.
Yet, here the Steelers sit, patiently waiting for an answer from veteran quarterback and future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers, while seeing Russell Wilson schedule visits with the Cleveland Browns and New York Giants, and other feasible options on the market at QB like Mac Jones get snatched up in free agency.
It’s a terrible place for the Steelers to be in, especially after swinging a big trade and spending a premium draft pick and major money on wide receiver DK Metcalf. But that’s where Pittsburgh finds itself under GM Omar Khan and head coach Mike Tomlin as it awaits a decision from Rodgers while Wilson is off on other visits.
For former NFL defensive end and current ESPN analyst Chris Canty, the Steelers are playing a dangerous game at quarterback.
“When you play stupid games, you win stupid prizes. And that’s what the Pittsburgh Steelers are doing right now. This is stupid. Russ wants to come back. Just get it over with that,” Canty said Thursday on Unsportmanlike, according to audio via ESPN Radio. “He’s posting stuff on his social media, black and yellow, acknowledging teammates birthdays from the Steelers. The guy clearly wants to be back. Even in post-season interviews he was like, ‘Yeah, I’m focused on being here with the Pittsburgh Steelers. I’m not thinking about what’s next.’ I don’t understand why the Steelers don’t wanna try to keep this thing pushing.
“I get that it’s gonna be slightly more expensive, but you just traded a premium draft pick and paid DK Metcalf $30 million a year. You might wanna have somebody throwing the ball because what good is that contract when you don’t have a competent quarterback under center?”
It’s a fair point from Canty. Even in the weeks after he initially signed with the Steelers last offseason on a one-year, $1.21 million deal after an unceremonious release from the Denver Broncos, Wilson was talking about being with the Steelers long-term, stating that the goal was to do business again with the franchise after the 2024 season.
Even after a rough end to the season in which the Steelers lost five straight games, including a blowout loss in the playoffs, Wilson was optimistic. He said that he was looking forward to returning to Pittsburgh and that he and the team were already in discussions during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show.
Since then, even with their preference to re-sign one of Wilson or Justin Fields, the Steelers seemingly always favored Fields before losing him to the New York Jets. After losing Fields, the Steelers seemingly pivoted to Sam Darnold, making an offer but missing out there, too.
Now, the attention has shifted to Rodgers, who is reportedly choosing between the Steelers, New York Giants and retirement, with the Minnesota Vikings lurking as a possibility. Meanwhile, Wilson is getting set to visit the Browns and the Giants and seems to have one foot out the door.
That’s where the Steelers are playing a dangerous game. So much attention is on Rodgers and waiting for his decision that the Steelers could be missing out on other opportunities, including Wilson. If they miss out on Wilson and Rodgers doesn’t pick them, where does that leave the Steelers at QB, especially after trading for Metcalf and giving him big money?
Well, in a dark place. A very dark place. One that even Aaron Rodgers would understand.
