NFL analyst believes the Steelers' decision to draft Will Howard gave Aaron Rodgers all the leverage in their ongoing talks
The Pittsburgh Steelers were always going to draft a quarterback in the 2025 NFL Draft. Whether that was on day one, two, or three is what was up for debate. It turned out to be the latter, and according to Zak Keefer of The Athletic, that gave Aaron Rodgers all the leverage… Zak Keefer names […]
The Pittsburgh Steelers were always going to draft a quarterback in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Whether that was on day one, two, or three is what was up for debate.
It turned out to be the latter, and according to Zak Keefer of The Athletic, that gave Aaron Rodgers all the leverage…
Zak Keefer names the Steelers losers of NFL Draft due to leverage with Aaron Rodgers
At this point, it seems like Aaron Rodgers is the Pittsburgh Steelers’ only viable option at quarterback, unless a playoff team from a year ago is willing to rest its season on the shoulders of Mason Rudolph. Pittsburgh’s selection of Ohio State’s Will Howard in the sixth round Saturday did nothing to change this.
The Steelers’ QB room at the moment looks like this: Rudolph, Howard and Skylar Thompson.
Does Rodgers save them? Probably not. He’s 40. He has regressed since rupturing his Achilles. Does he elevate them? Yes, but remember, he’d be joining a division already stacked with two perennial MVP contenders in Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow, both of whom are in their prime.
Zak Keefer, The Athletic
Maybe I'm just seeing it from the opposite viewpoint, but I couldn't disagree more. If the Steelers did draft a first-round quarterback like Jaxson Dart or take Shedeur Sanders before day three, then they would have lost leverage.
Why? Because we know that Rodgers didn't appreciate the Green Bay Packers drafting his heir apparent at the position via Jordan Love. Some in the media even floated conspiracy theories that Rodgers was waiting for the Steelers to not draft a quarterback with premium capital before he made his final decision.
So if anything, the Steelers gained leverage with Rodgers by waiting until day three to draft Will Howard, a QB they were high on since the end of the season. Is it Aaron Rodgers or bust in Pittsburgh?
Of course, but it's been that way for weeks if not months. Pittsburgh backed itself into this corner long before the NFL Draft. And if we are to take Art Rooney at face value, he believes Aaron Rodgers will be there soon.
So, a loss in leverage? I think not.
