Have Steelers changed their minds about pursuing Aaron Rodgers, Kirk Cousins this offseason?

It was reported back in January that potential free-agent quarterbacks such as Aaron Rodgers of the New York Jets and Kirk Cousins of the Atlanta Falcons did not "interest" the Pittsburgh Steelers "more than what they have" in pending free agents Justin Fields and Russell Wilson. 

It appears the situation may have changed with both Fields and Wilson on track to hit the open market when the new league year opens on March 12. 

For Tuesday's edition of The Athletic's "Scoop City" newsletter, NFL insider Dianna Russini shared that fans should now expect the Steelers "to explore every option," including pairing either Rodgers or Cousins with a to-be drafted rookie. On Monday, Nick Baumgardner of The Athletic predicted that the Steelers will grab Ohio State signal-caller Will Howard in the third round of the player-selection process. 

As of Monday, individuals within the Steelers seemed to still be "split" on whether to re-sign Fields or Wilson. Head coach Mike Tomlin said plenty about the situation when he benched Fields in favor of a healthy Wilson after Fields helped the Steelers win four of their first six games this past season. Tomlin then stuck with Wilson even though the veteran hit a figurative wall amid what became a five-game losing streak to end the campaign. 

Meanwhile, both Rodgers and Cousins are expected to be released by their current employers before springtime arrives. The Jets reportedly told Rodgers they wanted him to stop making "The Pat McAfee Show" appearances and attend all training-camp practices before that club's new regime decided to move on from the future Hall of Famer. History shows Tomlin likely wouldn't tolerate Rodgers causing avoidable distractions for the Steelers by going viral because of controversial comments and/or by skipping mandatory minicamp due to a pre-planned vacation. 

With that said, Rodgers insisted back in December he would be willing to "mentor the hell out of" a rookie later this year. Cousins has experience in such a role, as he mentored 2024 rookie Michael Penix Jr. both before and after the Falcons made Penix their QB1 in December. 

However, Cousins continues to be linked with the Cleveland Browns. Cleveland head coach Kevin Stefanski was Cousins' quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator when they were with the Minnesota Vikings during the 2018 and 2019 seasons. Stefanski may need a proven commodity to guide the 2025 Browns to the playoffs to hold onto his job through next winter. 

Russini's update indicates the Steelers aren't all-in on having either Fields or Wilson in their quarterback room when springtime workouts begin. Tomlin wanting an upgrade at the position is understandable, but it's unclear if he has a backup plan in mind if he doesn't land a desired quarterback and Pittsburgh loses both Fields and Wilson in free agency.