Out on A-Rod

With most key free agents off the board, the Steelers sit waiting for Aaron Rodgers to decide where he wants to play next season. After a horrific end to last year and being forced to ride Russell Wilson, key free agent Justin Fields chose to escape the modern-day offensive hell that is the Steelers. Even though GM Omar Khan traded for DK Metcalf—creating an electric receiving corps—the team still lacks a true quarterback to throw to him and George Pickens. While they did bring in Mason Rudolph as a contingency plan, I honestly believe the Steelers should just settle with him and draft a late-round quarterback.

Rodgers doesn’t push the Steelers over the hump. At best, he might get them a playoff win, but realistically, probably not even that. Signing Rodgers would be the biggest mistake they’ve made since drafting Najee Harris and Kenny Pickett in back-to-back first rounds. Bringing in someone like Rodgers comes with a media circus. Tomlin gets a ton of credit from the national media for how he handled Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell, but if you were in Pittsburgh, you know he didn’t actually handle anything. AB did whatever he wanted, which is why he left angry over a team MVP award. Tomlin also let Le’Veon do whatever he wanted, so when Bell didn’t get his big contract, he threw a tantrum. On top of that, Tomlin did nothing to help Martavis Bryant, whose substance issues derailed what could have been a special career.

Rodgers is a different kind of headache. You never know what he might leak or say. AB just wanted to be the center of attention in local media, while Rodgers wants the entire world to revolve around him. Whether it’s his segments on The Pat McAfee Show or his drug-laced retreats, Rodgers constantly seeks the spotlight. On the field, he isn’t bad, but he isn’t great either—he’s painfully average. While his passing yards and touchdowns ranked in the top 10, that doesn’t tell the full story. The Jets were so bad last year and trailed so often that Rodgers had to throw constantly, which is why he was second in passing attempts. His overall passing grade ranked 19th, and his QB grade was 18th.

His playing style is also limited. Due to his Achilles injury, he has lost much of his mobility. The Steelers preferred Fields not just because of his rushing ability, but because he could escape bad situations—something crucial given how poorly the Steelers’ offensive line has played. Wilson often looked like a sitting duck behind that line, and even he is more mobile than Rodgers, which makes the idea of Rodgers under center very concerning. What truly blew my mind was Rodgers' reported asking price—$90 million over two years. While I doubt he actually signs for that much, the fact that he even asked for it speaks to how full of himself he is.

Beyond the QB situation, the Steelers are simply not a good football team. While I do think the offense will improve regardless of whether Mason or Rodgers starts, the defense is extremely overrated and overpaid. The secondary is a disaster—Minkah Fitzpatrick has been invisible for two years, and Joey Porter Jr. can’t stop committing penalties. The Darius Slay signing is okay, but he’s aging, and I’m not sure how much longer he can maintain above-average play. The defensive line is decent, and drafting a defensive tackle early could help, but I’m completely out on T.J. Watt. He’s an elite player, but with his contract expiring soon, I don’t believe he should become the highest-paid edge rusher, especially as he moves past 30. He disappeared down the stretch last season, and this is a "prove-it" year to show he can still perform at an elite level.

The Steelers have too many issues, and while quarterback is one of them, Rodgers would just be duct tape on a sinking ship. Wilson was the same way—he started strong but fell apart by season’s end. I don’t expect anything different from Rodgers. The Steelers should ride with Mason Rudolph and draft a late-round quarterback. If he turns out to be good, great. If he struggles, even better—it puts them in a position to draft a true franchise quarterback.