Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported earlier today that free-agent QB Aaron Rodgers was at the Steelers’ facility for a meeting with the team today, and while he left without a deal, it sounds like things went well. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Rodgers met with Steelers brass, including head coach Mike Tomlin, GM Omar Khan and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, for six hours and that the visit was “positive.”
“Aaron Rodgers spent about six hours at the Steelers’ training facility today, meeting with their coaches. It was said to be a positive visit, and the two sides will stay in touch,” Schefter wrote on Twitter.
While it doesn’t sound like a deal is imminent, it’s a good sign that Rodgers was able to visit the facility and meet with Pittsburgh’s decision-makers. It remains to be seen if he’ll do the same with the New York Giants, the other team pursuing him in free agency, but given that the visit went well, it can’t be too much of a negative that Rodgers left the building without a deal.
The sooner Rodgers signs, the better it is for the Steelers so they can move forward with their offseason plans. But Aaron Rodgers has taken things slowly up to this point, so him coming to Pittsburgh at least marks a step forward in what has been a waiting game so far. It seems as if it indicates a decision could be closer, even if it doesn’t come today.
The Steelers are unlikely to bring back QB Russell Wilson, who was their primary starter last season, and Rodgers appears to be the last starting-caliber free agent quarterback the team will pursue. If the Steelers miss out on Rodgers, then it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them start Mason Rudolph in 2025.
It’s also a little bit notable that the visit with Rodgers lasted as long as it did, as it gave both sides a chance to get to know each other. Smith being involved is also a good sign, as Rodgers and Smith are going to need to be aligned in their offensive vision to avoid problems.
We’ll see how long it ultimately takes for Rodgers to make a decision, but the timeline could at least be speeding up with Rodgers making an effort to head to Pittsburgh today.
