Steelers reportedly could target Aaron Rodgers favorite to replace George Pickens

Reports on Wednesday confirmed that the Pittsburgh Steelers were trading wide receiver George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys. The move sparked speculation about whether it signaled the Steelers' lack of plans to sign veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers soon.

If Pittsburgh were to sign Rodgers, he may already have a replacement for Pickens in mind. 

"Per a source with knowledge of the situation, Jets receiver Allen Lazard is 'in play' to be traded to the Steelers," NFL insider Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reported on Wednesday. "Why Lazard? Because Rodgers completely and totally trusts him. And Lazard, for whatever reason, performs much better with Rodgers than he does without him. ...Lazard recently slashed his 2025 salary from $11M to $2.5M, with $1.75M of it guaranteed. That becomes a downright bargain for the Steelers."

Lazard first played alongside Rodgers with the Green Bay Packers from 2018 to 2022. Before the Jets acquired Rodgers from the Packers in the spring of 2023, it was reported that Lazard was on a "wish list" of players submitted by the future Hall of Famer to the Jets. 

Gang Green eventually signed Lazard to a four-year contract worth up to $44M with $22M guaranteed. Still, he failed to become a significant contributor for the organization after Rodgers went down with a torn Achilles tendon four offensive snaps into the 2023 regular season. Lazard ended that campaign with 23 catches for 311 yards and one touchdown, and he then tallied 530 yards and six scores over 37 receptions this past season. 

A new Jets regime led by first-year general manager Darren Mougey and rookie head coach Aaron Glenn showed Rodgers the door earlier this offseason. Meanwhile, Rodgers reportedly "has stayed in relatively constant contact with" Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin since the 41-year-old visited the Steelers in March. Presumably, trading for Lazard wouldn't cost the Steelers much at a time when the Jets want to move on from their failed Rodgers experiment. 

"The possibility hinges largely, if not entirely, on Rodgers signing with the Steelers," Florio added about Pittsburgh possibly landing Lazard. "While nothing with Rodgers is ever done until it’s done, the persistent thinking continues to be that it will happen."

Assuming that marriage becomes official, the Steelers could embrace multiple aspects of the so-called "Aaron Rodgers Experience" before training camp begins.