Arguments against the Steelers going after Aaron Rodgers
From the end of the season until the present day, I think I’ve seen other websites, TV and radio shows link no fewer than 30 different quarterbacks to the Pittsburgh Steelers, all trying to predict the best fit to replace the now retired Ben Roethlisberger.
In a series of upcoming articles, I’m going to highlight the pros and cons… just kidding. Only the cons – that is, of the Steelers acquiring a veteran quarterback this offseason.
This article focuses strictly on Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and his current situation: which is marred in speculation about whether or not he will play for the Packers, someone else, or retire this upcoming season.
He’s not a free agent
Let’s start with what hasn’t been obvious to a lot of people throwing Rodgers’ name around with the Steelers: something else will have to happen in order for him to be available to Pittsburgh, as the league’s current MVP is still contractually obligated to the Packers for at least the 2022 season.
What will he cost?
This could be a $50 million question. Literally.
Rodgers has claimed in recent interviews that he hasn’t asked to become the highest-paid quarterback in the NFL, and he’s already close to being so.
Some of the smoke surrounding a potential breakup with the Packers is Rodgers’ $46 million cap hit in 2022. The Packers are currently in the next-to-worst cap situation in the NFL, being $26 million over the cap.
Releasing or trading Rodgers can dump $19.8 million from Green Bay’s cap. With Rodgers entering the final year of his current deal, and with the Packers having drafted Jordan Love recently, the organization may be ready to move into the future – especially after the drama surrounding Rodgers all of last season.
Is a trade a good idea?
Many Steelers fans don’t want anywhere near the yearly Rodgers drama, which continues into 2022 with speculation about whether or not he’s returning to his current team, retiring, or forcing a trade.
This also happened over the last few seasons too, and that doesn’t include noise about the quarterback’s controversial covid comments during last season.
With those considerations aside, Rodgers has earned an average of $33.5 million per season on his last contract, signed in 2018. With teams throwing ridiculous amounts of money, north of $40 million, at quarterbacks such as Patrick Mahomes and Dak Prescott, Rodgers will easily command a comparable figure.
The Steelers finally have some cap space, but also lack draft picks due to previous trades in this year’s upcoming NFL Draft.
While Rodgers shouldn’t command a lot in a trade due to having one season left on his contract, but Green Bay is still eating over $34 million in dead money on the deal and might ask for more.
CBS Sports says a potential offer from the Pittsburgh Steelers for Aaron Rodgers would be:
2022 first-round pick (No. 20), 2023 first-round pick & third-round pick, 2024 conditional first-round pick
Would you want them to make that deal?
— The Fan Morning Show (@FanMorningShow) March 7, 2022
Both the financial cost and draft pick collateral might be more than enough to scare the Steelers away…
Bidding war
Several other teams could toss their name into the Aaron Rodgers lottery, and three others (including the Denver Broncos, where is previous offensive coordinator was just hired as the head coach) have been publicly named alongside the Steelers already.
This could price the Steelers out from not only a financial earnings standpoint, but also other talent which would be surrounding the quarterback.
His age
However, it’s Rodgers age that makes him a risk – maybe.
Still playing at an MVP level and having just turned 38 years old in December, it’s hard to argue that the future Hall of Famer isn’t worth making a play for.
The problem is, how many more years can you count on him playing? (Especially after witnessing Ben Roethlisberger’s decline at age 39 this past season.)
Is he an upgrade?
This is the main statement that needs made: out of every other quarterback that might be available this offseason, Rodgers presents maybe the only situation where he’s a clear upgrade over Pittsburgh’s current depth chart.
Quarterbacks such as Jimmy Garoppolo and Mitch Trubisky present their own issues, but only Rodgers is the clear-cut “must have” in terms of upgrading the position.
However, his cost and short-term future may make such a move prohibitive.
