Steelers predicted to ditch Aaron Rodgers, trade for former $66 million Pro Bowl quarterback | Sporting News

The Pittsburgh Steelers must figure out their quarterback situation sooner rather than later.

The team added Ohio State's Will Howard in Round 6 of the draft, but the 23-year-old needs some time to develop his skills before being a starting signal-caller.

The expectation is that Aaron Rodgers will eventually sign with the Steelers to be Mike Tomlin's starter.

However, Rodgers could also opt to retire or even wait until another job opens around the league.

If Rodgers doesn't sign with Pittsburgh, For the Win's Cory Woodroof predicts general manager Omar Khan will send a 2026 fifth-round pick to the Atlanta Falcons for quarterback Kirk Cousins.

The Rodgers drama can finally come to a close.

If Atlanta is willing to take on some of Cousins' salary, it can add back the 2026 fifth rounder it traded away in the 2025 NFL Draft.

It's a win for both sides, as Cousins gets a starting job and the Falcons add back a draft pick.

After posting the worst year of his career in 2024, which saw him get benched for Michael Penix Jr at the end of the year, Cousins is in a tough spot.

Atlanta is moving forward with Penix as the starter, but the team hasn't shown much interest in trading the veteran signal-caller despite Cousins telling members of the organization that he wants to be a starter and could waive his no-trade clause for an opportunity elsewhere.

Cousins was also a no-show at Falcons' voluntary OTAs on Wednesday, according to Atlanta head coach Raheem Morris.

If they don't land Rodgers, Cousins seems like the logical backup plan for the Steelers.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler has already reported that the 36-year-old quarterback is on Pittsburgh's radar, though the Falcons have been unwilling to take on the a chunk of the remaining guarantees on his deal, which would help facilitate a trade.

Cousins may be past his prime, but the Michigan State product can still serve as an adequate stopgap signal-caller for the Steelers and could lead the team back to the postseason.

The four-time Pro Bowler would also be a fantastic veteran leader and fit Tomlin's culture well.

Signing Rodgers is the ideal scenario.

However, trading for Cousins is also a possibility on the table for Pittsburgh if Rodgers calls it a career.

The Falcons will need to budge and show some type of willingness to deal the clearly unhappy quarterback for a trade to occur, though.

MORE PITTSBURGH STEELERS NEWS Pittsburgh Steelers had three very notable absences from first day of OTAs Steelers projected to give up on Will Howard in favor of electric 28-TD quarterback Steelers free agent pitch lands $100 million 5-time Pro Bowl receiver amid Aaron Rodgers wait.

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