Art Rooney may have just tipped the Pittsburgh Steelers’ draft plans when discussing where things stand with Aaron Rodgers
Art Rooney’s latest update on when they expect to hear from Aaron Rodgers could go a long way in determining what happens in April.
The Pittsburgh Steelers hold the keys to what may go down as one of the most memorable drafts in recent NFL history. A class that is polarizing from top to bottom due to a lack of true blue chippers and shallow depth, the city of Pittsburgh could be in for a treat, not just on night one, but throughout the weekend.
For the Steelers, the fireworks start at 21 or potentially sooner, depending on whether the team decides to trade up or stick and pick. Well, a decision on that selection could be determined by what happens at quarterback over the next few weeks, something Art Rooney doubled down on.
Art Rooney standing firm on draft weekend as expectation for Aaron Rodgers decision
“When I talked to him and Omar [Khan] talked to him, he told us he wasn’t going to take as long this year as he did last year [to make a decision],” said Rooney. “I’m not 100% sure what that means, but I expect something before the draft.”
“I still expect that,” Rooney told Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette at the league owners meetings on Sunday. “I expect we’ll get an answer before the draft.”
Now, why would the draft serve as a de facto deadline? Probably because the Steelers could very well be in range of one of the more heavily discussed and debated prospects in this class, Ty Simpson of the Alabama Crimson Tide.
In a perfect world, the Steelers have Rodgers for another year, see what they have with Will Howard, and then decide whether or not they go all in at quarterback in the 2027 NFL Draft. Like much of the Steelers’ plans the last two years, that is all dependent on Rodgers.
What happens if Aaron Rodgers doesn’t make a decision in the next 3 weeks?
Here’s where things get interesting. If Rodgers is still talking his walks on the beach and, as he said on the Pat McAfee Show, the Steelers haven’t offered him a contract, then all eyes turn to the Steelers at 21. If they take Simpson (or any quarterback for that matter) perhaps that would disuade Rodgers from coming back.
But if they don’t take a quarterback, and Rodgers is still noncommittal, it’s all but a foregone conclusion that it’s Will Howard’s job to lose, and the Steelers would add another backup.
Safe to say it will be an interesting three weeks.
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