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The Pittsburgh Steelers are still optimistic free-agent quarterback Aaron Rodgers will join the team soon, president and owner Art Rooney said Friday, as the 2025 NFL Draft continued and the team declined to take a quarterback through the first three rounds.
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Speaking on Steelers Nation Radio midway through Day 2 — before the team’s pick at No. 83 in the third round — Rooney also said the team’s pursuit of Rodgers had not materially affected its approach in the draft, but that the team could still draft a quarterback. After Rooney spoke, Pittsburgh passed on Shedeur Sanders (and other available QBs) at No. 83, instead taking running back Kaleb Johnson.
“We really did not factor whether Aaron is coming or not into that,” Rooney said. “If we draft a quarterback — and we still might — it’s probably not someone who’s going to start for us this year. It’s going to be somebody that will be developing and may play down the road. It’s not like somebody that’s going to have a big impact on this season if we draft a quarterback.”
Sanders remains available after his stunning slide out of the first three rounds. Pittsburgh has only two QBs (Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson) on the roster entering Saturday, though that could change before long, as the Steelers have four picks on Day 3, and Rodgers still has interest in Pittsburgh, Rooney said.
“We’re still kind of getting the same signals that we’ve been getting recently,” the owner said. “He does want to come here, so I do think we may get word soon.”
Rodgers said last week that he was waiting to make a decision while he handles matters in his personal life. He also said he is “open to anything and attached to nothing,” and that retirement is still a possibility.
Why Rodgers is still the favorite to be QB1
Even though the Rodgers saga has dragged on much longer than the Steelers initially anticipated, the team has remained optimistic behind the scenes that a deal will get done. By making those private sentiments more public, Rooney is only reinforcing the idea that Pittsburgh believes Rodgers will be its starting quarterback in 2025.
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The Steelers’ actions in the draft are further evidence. Pittsburgh has been on the clock twice, first at No. 21 and then in the third round at No. 83. In both instances, Colorado’s Sanders was available, but the Steelers chose to address other positions of need. — Mike DeFabo, Steelers beat writer
What could change?
The one X-factor in this conversation is Kirk Cousins. If the Falcons are willing to eat a huge chunk of the $37.5 million he’s guaranteed over the next two years ($27.5 million in 2025 and a $10 million roster bonus in 2026), it’s not outside the realm of possibility that the Steelers would pivot and trade for Cousins. However, that steep price and Rooney’s comments pour some cold water on that hypothetical.
The other transaction to watch for those trying to collect breadcrumbs is a possible George Pickens trade. There’s a desire within the organization to give Rodgers the full opportunity to make a run in 2025. Keeping Pickens for the final year of his rookie deal would be another indication that the Steelers believe they’re going to land Rodgers. — DeFabo
What to watch on Saturday
General manager Omar Khan said earlier this week that the Steelers plan to bring four quarterbacks to training camp. Right now, they have just two in Rudolph and Thompson. Early in Day 3, the Steelers will likely be looking to make their move at QB. However, they came into the draft planning to find more of a developmental project. Even if Sanders is still available and the Steelers pull the trigger, he’d slot in as QB2 or QB3 on the depth chart to start. If they were looking at Sanders as the answer to their unsettled QB situation, they would have drafted him by now. — DeFabo
(Photo: Charles LeClaire / Imagn Images)
