Steelers Put Aaron Rodgers on Clock With QB Visit

Moreover, Rapoport declared that the Steelers are attempting to safeguard themselves against losing out on Rodgers, and that perhaps their plans with Sanders will put a bit more pressure on the four-time MVP to determine his next steps.

"By the Steelers bringing in Shedeur Sanders, they made two points," Rapoport said. "One: if Rodgers doesn't come to the Steelers, they're probably going to have to draft a quarterback somewhere. And the other part of this is like, 'Rodgers, if you tell us after the draft, we're gonna have to protect ourselves.' So he's a little bit on the clock, too."

Despite its reported interest in Ole Miss' Jaxson Dart and Alabama's Jalen Milroe, both of whom have a chance to go in the first round, Pittsburgh has never felt particularly likely to take a quarterback on Day 1 of the draft.

If Sanders were to slide down the board, however, which has become a more probable scenario in recent days, then the value may be too good for the Steelers to pass up on.

The organization represents Rodgers' only realistic landing spot at this point in time with both the New York Giants and Minnesota Vikings essentially out of the running, but they'd still need a long-term solution behind center even if he were to eventually sign with them.

With that said, the Steelers' pursuit of Rodgers should have no bearing on Sanders' potential fate with the team, and vice versa.

They have a number of other areas on the roster that require reinforcements, but selecting Sanders wouldn't hinder it from doing so, and his development wouldn't be held up if Rodgers were to enter the fray either.