Pittsburgh Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers are exploring all avenues to fill their quarterback vacancy.

Alan Saunders of Steelers Now reported that the team is hosting four players for pre-draft visits on Friday. One player of note is Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart.

The meeting with Dart comes as the team currently only has Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson on the roster. Pittsburgh has been linked to free agent quarterback Aaron Rodgers but he has yet to sign with the franchise.

Dart is rated as the No. 58 overall player and the No. 4 quarterback in the 2025 NFL Draft class by Bleacher Report's NFL Scouting Department. He threw for 4,279 yards with 29 touchdowns and six interceptions in 2023 while leading Ole Miss to a 10-3 record.

The Steelers are coming off of a 10-7 season and a playoff appearance but quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Justin Fields have departed for new opportunities in free agency. The path has appeared open for Rodgers, who is coming off a two-year stint with the New York Jets, but the 41-year-old has yet to commit.

The interest in Dart may not be exclusive to Rodgers not starting as they could choose the 21-year-old as a developmental project. However, not landing Rodgers would make securing a rookie quarterback vital, so the meeting shows that the team is weighing all options.

As the Pittsburgh Steelers continue to wait for Aaron Rodgers to make his decision in free agency, executives around the NFL are skeptical about his fit with the organization.

Speaking to The Athletic's Mike Sando, one league executive said they "can’t think of a worse combination" for Rodgers than playing with DK Metcalf, George Pickens and working with offensive coordinator Arthur Smith.

Rodgers' options seem to be down to either the Steelers or retirement. While there have been some rumblings the four-time MVP could decide to retire, nothing definitive has come out in that regard.

Footage was posted online this week showing Rodgers working out on a football field and throwing passes to Metcalf.

Steelers owner Art Rooney II told reporters on Tuesday from the annual league meetings they are "getting positive sort of signals" about Rodgers and they "feel pretty good about it at this point."

Per ESPN's Brooke Pryor and Kevin Seifert, the Steelers continue to be "engaged" in talks with Rodgers since his in-person visit to their facilities on March 21.

If the Steelers are able to sign Rodgers, there have been plenty of questions raised about the potential dynamic between him and their receiver duo.

Rodgers is known to want his receivers to be very exact and precise with what they are doing at all times. Metcalf and Pickens don't really fit that style. They're tremendously talented players, but they are at their best winning down the field.

Metcalf uses his big body to outmuscle opposing cornerbacks, while Pickens uses his incredible catch radius to pull the ball out of the air even when it seems like there's no window for him to make a play.

Smith, who is entering his second season as offensive coordinator, has been criticized for his game-planning going back to his time as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons.

It seems like a given, despite being insistent they are comfortable with Mason Rudolph, the Steelers will add at least one more quarterback this offseason. It could be Rodgers, or possibly someone early in the draft.

If it ends up being Rodgers, there are a lot of combustible elements in a condensed area that could go off at any moment if things don't start well next season.

If Rodgers comes in and is able to stabilize the quarterback spot for Pittsburgh, all of these potential concerns will be washed away.

Aaron Rodgers has put in some work with a potential future teammate.

Photographer Alex Amen shared photos and video on Instagram of Rodgers at a throwing session with new Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver D.K. Metcalf.

NFL Network's Mike Garafolo first reported Rodgers and Metcalf had a workout together "over the weekend" at UCLA.

The free-agent quarterback previously met with the Steelers' coaching staff at their training facility for roughly six hours on March 21 as he considers a possible future destination, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Despite a playoff appearance in 2024, Pittsburgh has committed to improving its offense after owning the NFL's sixth-worst passing attack last season.

The Steelers acquired Metcalf from the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for a package centered around a 2025 second-round pick on March 9, subsequently handing the two-time Pro Bowl wideout a new five-year contract extension worth $150 million.

Pittsburgh is still searching for an established starting option under center to throw to Metcalf and George Pickens, though. Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson are the only quarterbacks on the team's current roster, with both players serving as depth options throughout their respective careers.

While Rodgers has yet to make a decision, it doesn't appear to be a troubling sign for Pittsburgh.

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin previously confirmed that the front office hasn't given the veteran a deadline to sign and told reporters on Monday that he's "really comfortable with being unsettled this time of year."

Rodgers eventually agreeing to a contract with Pittsburgh is also considered a "safe bet," according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.

The 41-year-old failed to meet expectations during his 2024 campaign with the New York Jets, but he also showed that he can still be a capable starter. Rodgers completed 63 percent of his throws for 3,897 yards and 28 touchdowns compared to 11 interceptions in 17 starts.

As the signal-caller continues to navigate through his free agency, it appears he's staying sharp.

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin didn't provide any updates Monday when it came to the pursuit of free-agent quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

Tomlin told reporters that "there's no substitute for intimacy," so it was good to meet with Rodgers personally last week. The coach added he's "really comfortable with being unsettled this time of year," so it doesn't sound as though Pittsburgh feels a level of urgency to address its QB situation.

Tomlin's comments Monday come a day after he was similarly vague about his quarterback plans for 2025.

"We're still evaluating the acquisition of a guy at the position, whether it's free agency and/or the draft, and so we're doing our due diligence communicating with some free agents. Also preparing for the draft," he told reporters.

Tomlin said the team isn't operating with any sort of internal deadline.

The fact Rodgers left Pittsburgh without a contract agreement certainly seems to be telling.

At this stage of the offseason, the quarterback market has thinned out. Not to mention, the four-time MVP is a proven commodity. If the Steelers really wanted Rodgers or he really wanted the Steelers, then they presumably would've struck a bargain by now. Instead, it looks like one of the two parties is waiting for a better solution to emerge.

Tomlin, for his part, isn't convincing anybody when he said Pittsburgh is "excited about having Mason Rudolph back." It will be difficult to sell fans on the idea the team can mount a playoff charge next year if Rudolph is the starter.

Of course, the same might apply to Rodgers too given how much he struggled with the New York Jets in 2024.

For a lot of fans in the Steel City, this all symbolizes the Steelers' lack of a succession plan in a post-Ben Roethlisberger future. They whiffed on Kenny Pickett and cycled through Mitchell Trubisky, Russell Wilson and Justin Fields in the hope of finding something that sticks.

Especially if Rodgers is the ultimate choice, the franchise will basically be in the same exact position again this time next spring.

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin revealed that the team hasn't given Aaron Rodgers a deadline to make his decision in free agency.

"Not to my knowledge," Tomlin said Sunday, per Mike DeFabo of The Athletic. "You know, I don't know that we've approached it from a deadline perspective. Certainly, as I mentioned, you'd like to have settled circumstances. But, you know, deadlines don't often bring that to a head."

When asked about the uncertainty surrounding the quarterback position hindering the rest of the team, the 53-year-old called training camp a "line of demarcation" (via ESPN's Brooke Pryor).

Tomlin said that Rodgers' visit with the Steelers was a "really good day," per Pryor.

The initial meeting between both sides was to get to know one another instead of finalizing a contract, via Dale Lolley of the team's official website.

The veteran quarterback became a free agent when the New York Jets officially released him on March 12.

Rodgers started 17 games for the Jets in 2024, as they finished with a record of 5-12. The 41-year-old completed 63 percent of his throws for 3,897 yards and 28 touchdowns to go along with 11 interceptions.

His 48.0 QBR ranked No. 25 among 32 qualified passers, though.

Still, Rodgers could be a serviceable short-term option for a Steelers team looking to clinch a third consecutive playoff berth in 2025. Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, Pittsburgh's 2024 starters, left in free agency to sign with the New York Giants and Jets, respectively.

Rodgers visited the Steelers' training facility to meet with their coaching staff for roughly six hours on March 21, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Per Schefter, the meeting was described as "positive."

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk also reported that it's a "safe bet" that Rodgers will sign with Pittsburgh despite the current timeline of a potential agreement remaining unknown.

Tomlin confirmed that the Steelers aren't pressuring the four-time MVP to make a decision, either.

The Pittsburgh Steelers could turn to Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins if the team can't sign Aaron Rodgers in free agency.

According to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, the Steelers will "likely be interested" in Cousins if Rodgers doesn't sign with them.

ESPN's Adam Schefter previously reported that Rodgers is weighing the possibility of taking the 2025 season off despite meeting with Pittsburgh on March 21.

As for Cousins, he's still under contract with Atlanta after signing a four-year deal worth $180 million to join the Falcons during the 2024 offseason.

He started 14 games for the team to open his 2024 campaign before he was benched in favor of Michael Penix Jr., owning a record of just 7-7 as a starter and tossing 16 interceptions.

Cousins' future on the Falcons is murky with Penix expected to enter the 2025 season atop the depth chart, but their front office may not be actively looking to trade him yet. If Atlanta trades the veteran after June 1, it would carry a dead cap hit of just $12.5 million in 2025 compared to a $37.5 million dead cap hit if he's dealt before then (h/t Cabot).

Still, Pittsburgh could pursue him if Rodgers isn't interested.

The Steelers are still on the hunt for a capable starting option under center in 2025 after Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, their 2024 starters, both went elsewhere in free agency. Wilson signed with the New York Giants, while Fields agreed to join the New York Jets.

Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson are the only two quarterbacks currently under contract for Pittsburgh.

The Steelers are still looking to compete for a third consecutive playoff berth in 2025, acquiring two-time Pro Bowl wide receiver D.K. Metcalf in a trade with the Seattle Seahawks on March 9.

If Rodgers isn't signed, Pittsburgh may turn its attention towards Cousins.

Skip Bayless thinks Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Cam Heyward has flip-flopped on whether he wants Aaron Rodgers to sign with the team in free agency.

And Heyward thinks Bayless should learn how to at least spell his name:

Last week, Heyward said on his Not Just Football podcast that he wasn't losing any sleep over whatever Rodgers decided.

"I ain't doing that darkness retreat. I don't need any of that crap," he said (h/t SteelersNow). "Either you want to be a Pittsburgh Steeler or you don't. That's simple, that's the pitch. If you want me to recruit, that's the recruiting pitch. Pittsburgh Steelers—if you want to be part of it, so be it. If you don't, no skin off my back."

He later discussed those remarks on The Rich Eisen Show.

"Everybody gave me crap. They said I called him out," Heyward noted. "I don't think I really called him out. I just said I wasn't going on a darkness retreat to recruit him. But if he wants to be a Steeler, he can be a Steeler. That's the pitch. I don't know why everybody thought, 'Oh Cam's really going at him.' Some fans felt, 'Oh yeah, keep doing that,' and the other fans felt like, 'Oh man, you're really gonna scare him off.' I'm not scaring anybody off. I just wanna win games and play good football."

The Steelers currently only have Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson on the roster at quarterback, making it by far the biggest need on the roster.

Whether Rodgers ultimately decides to sign with the team or Pittsburgh addresses the position in the first round of April's NFL draft remains to be seen, but it's unlikely that Heyward's thoughts on the matter will have much to do with it.

The Pittsburgh Steelers reportedly felt good about the "vibe" of offensive coordinator Arthur Smith's meeting with quarterback Aaron Rodgers, per NFL insider Josina Anderson.

"From Pittsburgh's viewpoint, I heard they walked away that day feeling really good about the vibe of the meeting, per a league source," Anderson wrote in part.

Rodgers met with Steelers leadership for six hours last Friday, and the visit was described as positive, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Obviously, it's a good sign for the Steelers that they felt Rodgers' talk with the offensive coordinator was a positive one. At this juncture, Rodgers is clearly Pittsburgh's No. 1 option at quarterback, and it's hard to see where the team can go if he doesn't end up landing with the Steelers.

The New York Giants are out after signing Russell Wilson to join Jameis Winston in their quarterback room, and the Minnesota Vikings have all but signaled that they're going to roll with J.J. McCarthy next year.

The Giants, Vikings and Steelers have been the three top teams connected with Rodgers, so it's really up to him at this point if he wants to head to Pittsburgh or pursue some other option, perhaps even retirement.

Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported on Monday that a decision could potentially be expected within the next few days.

Perhaps that means any day now, but at the moment, a decision still looms large.

After previously declaring that he won't be recruiting star quarterback Aaron Rodgers to the Pittsburgh Steelers, veteran defensive lineman Cameron Heyward clarified his stance on the situation.

During an appearance on NFL Network's Good Morning Football, Heyward admitted that he would welcome Rodgers to the Steelers if the two sides agreed to a contract this offseason.

"Yes, it was misconstrued. From my point of view, I was asked the question of, 'Would you go to the lengths of going to a darkness retreat to recruit Aaron Rodgers?' I said, 'I'm not doing that,'" Heyward said. "The pitch is: If you wanna be a Steeler, be a Steeler. It wasn't meant that I don't like Rodgers or I'm against it. I think when I look at our team right now, it would be really cool to have a guy like Aaron Rodgers, but I can't be the guy who gets it over the finish line. I think he's got to make those decisions for himself."

Heyward stirred up some drama last week when he said on his Not Just Football podcast that he was "tired of talking about the quarterback situation" before he gave a blunt message to Rodgers, saying, "Either you want to be a Pittsburgh Steeler or you don’t."

Rodgers visited the Steelers on Friday, though he left the building without signing a deal. ESPN's Brooke Pryor reported that sources said Rodgers "met with the team's coaches in what was described as a positive visit, with the two sides agreeing to stay in touch."

Following his release from the New York Jets this offseason, Rodgers is running out of options for his next landing spot. The New York Giants solidified their quarterback room by signing backup Jameis Winston and former Steelers signal-caller Russell Wilson within less than a week of one another. The Minnesota Vikings publicly stated that they're not pursuing the 41-year-old at this time.

That leaves the Steelers as the most ideal destination for Rodgers if he hopes to return for his 21st season in the NFL. While it remains unclear when Rodgers will make a decision, Heyward said he hopes Pittsburgh figures out its quarterback situation "sooner rather than later" so the team can start to build chemistry in preparation for a playoff chase next season.

"I would just say, you know, if you come to the Pittsburgh Steelers, the goal is to win," Heyward said. "You know, we haven't had the success we want, but the goal is still in mind to raise a Lombardi and bring that seventh one to Pittsburgh. We don't really care about the glitz and glam of New York, but the focus is on good hard football, competing every day, challenging each other, trying to go from there."

While the Pittsburgh Steelers continue to wait for Aaron Rodgers to make a decision in free agency, they could be looking at long-term quarterback options outside of the first round in the 2025 NFL draft.

Per Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Will Howard was among the prospects Steelers general manager Omar Khan and head coach Mike Tomlin met with before the start of Ohio State's pro day on Wednesday.

The Steelers appear to be the last team standing for Rodgers at this point. Rather than continue to wait on the four-time NFL MVP, the New York Giants agreed to a one-year, $21 million contract with Russell Wilson on Tuesday.

Rodgers had an in-person meeting with Steelers officials at their facilities on March 21. He spent time with Khan, Tomlin and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, per Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer.

NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported Tuesday that Rodgers' decision could be coming "within the next few days."

Given Rodgers' age—he is 41 and will turn 42 on Dec. 2—the Steelers would be wise to think about some sort of succession plan at quarterback. Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson are currently the only quarterbacks they have under contract.

Howard, at one point, seemed like a rising player in the 2025 class. His stock took a hit at the scouting combine after a rough showing in which he was inaccurate throwing to all three levels of the field, though it wasn't necessarily as bad as it was initially made out to be.

Howard, 23, could be a perfect developmental quarterback for a team to take and let sit behind a veteran for one year. He showed off tremendous tools and accuracy in his lone season at Ohio State in 2024.

B/R's NFL scouting department has Howard ranked as the third-best quarterback and No. 54 overall prospect in the 2025 draft class.

One potential problem for the Steelers is Howard might not be available for them after the first round. They sent their second-round pick to the Seattle Seahawks in the DK Metcalf trade, so their only picks in the first two days of the draft right now are at No. 21 and 83 overall.