Aaron Rodgers' return to Pittsburgh could benefit Steelers long term

The overall reaction to the return of Aaron Rodgers to the Pittsburgh Steelers has been overwhelmingly negative. 

Why bother signing a 42-year-old for one more year if it does not significantly improve your team? It is easy to understand why a good portion of the Steelers fan base has grown tired of the ongoing Aaron Rodgers saga. However, there may be a lot more developing here behind the scenes.

Is Drew Allar the future?

If Drew Allar really is the future of the franchise, bringing in Rodgers for one season could actually be one of the most beneficial situations imaginable for him. It wouldn’t be because Rodgers could teach him the Steelers' playbook specifically, as one of the premier talents at quarterback will likely do in a backup capacity. 

But he is one of the only few quarterbacks in the history of the NFL qualified to teach a young quarterback the minutiae between good quarterbacks and great quarterbacks: pre-snap reads, manipulating safeties, understanding leverage and recognizing disguised coverage before the ball is snapped. 

These are small details young quarterbacks struggle with in their early careers. Few people could better teach that information to a rookie than an eventual Hall of Famer whose entire career was built upon frustrating defenses with his football intelligence.

Mason Rudolph is a major factor

Also, there’s another major factor in this equation: Mason Rudolph.

Rudolph is the longest-tenured quarterback as he has spent seven seasons in Pittsburgh. If Rudolph comes back to Pittsburgh this season, the Steelers could potentially have two veteran quarterbacks to teach Allar from two different perspectives. 

Rodgers could teach him the art of being an elite quarterback at the highest level. Rudolph, on the other hand, already understands the Steelers system, the vernacular, the locker room and what it's like to feel pressure within that specific organization. That combined teaching dynamic could actually be a secret benefit to developing a young quarterback for the NFL.

Now is not Drew Allar's time

And then there is another element that seems to be overlooked: time. Young quarterbacks are thrown into the fire at an incredible rate in the modern NFL. 

One good preseason game and suddenly the fans want the rookie in for Week 3 as if they were ordering French fries from the drive-thru window. Sitting behind Rodgers for one season would afford him the chance to continue his development without having the immense burden of immediately saving the franchise.

The Steelers also wouldn't need Rodgers to return to being vintage Rodgers. All they would need is competent and consistent play. Someone who is able to steer the offense while Allar grows.

Aaron Rodgers provides undeniable credibility

Finally, Rodgers adds a certain undeniable credibility to the quarterback room that a young quarterback can learn a tremendous amount from. Players listen when advice is given by a four-time MVP and Super Bowl champion. 

Watching how he prepares during the week, how he handles the cameras and scrutiny of an NFL veteran and how he responds to pressure situations could do more to help Allar’s game than any stats on the back of a baseball card.

Aaron Rodgers' value is about shaping the future

The Aaron Rodgers in Pittsburgh discussion isn't going anywhere anytime soon; however, if the Steelers believe they have their future, his value to the team likely doesn't have as much to do with getting one more championship as it does preparing for the next era of Steelers football.