Steelers QB trade rumor could lead to blockbuster deal for Aaron Rodgers replacement originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The Aaron Rodgers-Pittsburgh Steelers saga is finished.
Not too long ago, it was unclear if the Rodgers would return to the Steelers for another season. However, on Saturday night, Rodgers provided Pittsburgh and its fan base with a sense of relief by signing a one-year deal with the six-time Super Bowl champions.
“Aaron Rodgers is expected to sign a one-year deal worth up to $25 million, per sources,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on X/Twitter. “The deal is expected to include a base salary between $22 and $23 million, with up to a few million more in incentives. The deal still needs to be finalized and signed.”
While it’s good news for the Steelers that Rodgers is back in the equation, it doesn’t change the fact that the organization must begin looking toward the future.
Rodgers likely has only a year or two left in the NFL, making it vital for the Steelers to have a viable backup plan once he retires. On Thursday, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that the Steelers could eye a blockbuster 2027 NFL Draft trade to land a young signal-caller with exceptional upside.
“Teams out of contention will be tempted to look toward their April possibilities while trying to finish out a rough year on the field,” Fowler wrote. “Many of these prospects have questions. Sellers’ tools are elite, but he’s considered raw. Teams are trying to determine Moore’s ceiling. The sneaky riser is Notre Dame’s C.J. Carr.”
“There’s excitement about his development in some league circles. A few executives consulted for this story are watching Pittsburgh — which has started seven quarterbacks since Ben Roethlisberger retired after the 2021 season — for a move up the draft board to capitalize on a quarterback class it has spent years studying.”
Fowler’s report indicates the Steelers may not feel 100% comfortable promoting Drew Allar or Will Howard to QB1 when Rodgers departs the organization (and the league). Of course, it isn’t set in stone that Pittsburgh will attempt to trade up to select a tantalizing QB in next year’s draft, but the fact that Fowler listed it as a realistic possibility a year in advance is bad news for the two unproven signal callers.
It’ll be interesting to see which direction the AFC North franchises choose when it’s time to begin the post-Rodgers era.
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