Report: Steelers believe Aaron Rodgers is 'going to be there'

Pittsburgh Steelers fans have been waiting for two months for a decision from veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers on what he plans to do with his future. 

The quarterback probably has one or two years left in him on the field, and the only logical landing spot for him would be in Pittsburgh. He is also considering retirement, and he is taking plenty of time to make sure he comes to the proper decision for himself. The interest between the two parties has been known for almost roughly the entire offseason, but things are starting to take shape for Pittsburgh now that it is the only true option for Rodgers if he wants to continue playing.

This saga has been exhausting ever since the start of free agency back in March. The Steelers missed out on some other quarterbacks and pivoted to Rodgers immediately. The four-time league MVP was also drawing interest from the New York Giants, and he reportedly wanted to see if he would be able to play for the Minnesota Vikings. Neither of those two teams are options now, which has Pittsburgh feeling pretty good about its chances of landing the veteran. 

League insider Dianna Russini went on her podcast "Scoop City" on Monday night, where she spoke about the situation between Rodgers and Pittsburgh.

"Still waiting for Aaron Rodgers," Russini said. "Whether or not he's going to sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers -- Chase [Daniel], I talked to some people within the league and they have their theories that the Steelers know Aaron's going there. They have a handshake that he's going to be there, he just doesn't want to answer questions about not being at Organized Team Activities (OTAs) because he just wants to step away for now."

A handshake deal is the only thing that would make the way the organization has been acting make sense. It has been too nonchalant when it comes to the quarterback position, acting as if starting Mason Rudolph or sixth-round rookie Will Howard in 2025 would be decent options if Rodgers didn't sign a deal. According to Russini, the franchise has a pretty good idea that Rodgers will be wearing the black and gold in 2025.

That was a theory that Russini had heard from various NFL executives around the league, so it did not come directly from the Steelers organization. However, Russini has spoken with some people in Pittsburgh, and she shared some comments from those within the organization about the hunt for Rodgers.

"I can tell you from the latest conversations I've had with Pittsburgh, the sense I get is they feel good it's happening," Russini explained. "I don't feel like they think it's a done deal. So take that for what it is."

Every sign that the organization has shown when it comes to the Rodgers situation has been optimistic. Team President Art Rooney II spoke publicly and he inspired hope in the fan base by being straightforward about Rodgers' intentions. As long as nothing goes wrong, Rodgers should be the starter for Pittsburgh in 2025, which hopefully raises the team's ceiling.

Steelers need to make Will Howard the backup

Pittsburgh drafted Howard in the sixth-round of the 2025 NFL Draft, and he should have been drafted higher. He is a national champion and has all the physical tools to be a starter in the league. It is important that the Steelers have him as the team's immediate backup throughout the 2025 season, regardless of what Rodgers does. If Rodgers signs, Rudolph needs to be the emergency quarterback. The organization has seen enough of him and knows what he can do, so they should allow Howard to be the backup. 

The same goes for if Rodgers doesn't sign. Start the year with Rudolph as the starter, while allowing Howard to take significant snaps during practice. Once Rudolph likely begins to struggle, replace him.