Two undesirable options Steelers have if they don't sign Aaron Rodgers

The Pittsburgh Steelers are stuck between a rock and a hard place. The hard place is the uninspiring quarterback room they've assembled for the 2025 season, and the rock is the excruciating process of negotiating with Aaron Rodgers.

Until recently, the Steelers were stuck in a holding pattern while trying to court the 41-year-old Rodgers. They made a splashy trade for ex-Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf, presumably to pair him with the talented but controversial George Pickens and convince Rodgers that there was a worthy pass-catching duo to throw to in Pittsburgh. 

That changed when the Steelers traded Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys for a 2026 third-round draft pick and a 2027 fifth-round draft pick on Wednesday. Pickens had plenty of off-the-field issues that gave head coach Mike Tomlin a season full of headaches, but the team lost a potential impact player.

Now, Rodgers' interest in joining the Steelers may not waver if he also feels Pickens was a detriment to the team. Or he may look at the Steelers' offensive depth chart and lose confidence in a roster with just Metcalf as the lone playmaker.

So, what are the Steelers' options if they don't land Rodgers? The team could take two paths: either stick with the current quarterback room or make a trade for Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins — neither path is desirable. 

QB competition between backups

Currently, QB1 on the Steelers depth chart is Mason Rudolph, who joined the team in 2018. At best, Rudolph is a serviceable backup who can manage a game and hope the Steelers' defense finds a way to win. Behind Rudolph are backup Skylar Thompson and rookie Will Howard. 

Howard's MVP performance in leading The Ohio State University to a 34-23 win over Notre Dame in last year's national championship game wasn't enough to increase his draft stock. The Steelers picked Howard in the sixth round, an area where teams get backup quarterbacks they can pay on cheap rookie deals.