Overview
- Aaron Rodgers remains a free agent after his one-year deal voided in March, with team president Art Rooney II seeking clarity before the draft and ESPN’s Adam Schefter noting there is no firm deadline even as the Steelers want an answer by April 23.
- For now, Mason Rudolph and 2025 sixth-rounder Will Howard are the quarterbacks taking spring work as Pittsburgh’s offseason program ramps up.
- ESPN’s Brooke Pryor reports the Steelers are unlikely to spend their first-round pick on a quarterback, though they have done Day 2 and Day 3 homework on Carson Beck, Drew Allar and Garrett Nussmeier based on size and cold‑weather traits the staff values.
- ESPN’s Matt Miller says some inside the organization are fans of Howard, so the front office plans to “play the board” rather than force a quarterback selection this year.
- Public criticism has grown as Skip Bayless and Cris Carter fault the delay, reporting points to a higher salary target near $30 million compared with last year’s $13.65 million, and outside analysts have floated fallback ideas such as trading for J.J. McCarthy.