Insider Tabs Surprising Veteran As Aaron Rodgers Replacement

Aaron Rodgers' future was already in doubt before he signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers a few weeks ago. Many assumed he would join the Steelers for the 2025 season though the delay in making it official had fans wondering about his commitment to playing another season outright. 

Rodgers' career is winding down and he make that perfectly clear this week, revealing on The Pat McAfee Show that his first year with the Pittsburgh Steelers will be the final of his career.

That means the Steelers are on the clock to at a minimum start thinking about their future at the position. Pittsburgh faced a similar problem a year ago, deploying Russell Wilson and Justin Fields as temporary placeholders. 

It's a similar circumstance now for the team. Some feel that a projected stronger quarterback draft class could provide them the permanent answer they have sought after for years. However, one insider thinks that they could look into acquiring another veteran. 

ESPN's Brooke Pryor tabbed Arizona Cardinals' quarterback Kyler Murray as a player that could be on the Steelers radar. 

"Trading for a starting quarterback is rarer these days, and expensive, but not impossible... The Steelers could first look at former first-round picks who haven't played up to their expected potential. 

"Arizona's Kyler Murray will have two years and a club option on his current contract after the 2025 season. His cap hits are significant -- $53.2 million and $43.5 million -- but they could be massaged and restructured."

Murray enters his seventh year in the NFL and at age 27, there is still an opportunity for him to progress under center. When he's on the field, Murray is one of the more dynamic players in the league. 

But there is also an argument for the Steelers running into the same issue going this route. Changing out starting quarterbacks is an unconventional strategy because most teams press the reset button at the position through the draft. 

Having changed out veterans multiple times already, a section of the fanbase would bemoan the use of that strategy for a third straight offseason. Murray does, however, have more upside than any other play caller to make it work. 

For now, the Steelers back Rodgers and will try to capitalize on his final season. But they will need to start thinking about what's next sooner rather than later.