The NFL free agency started more than three weeks ago, yet Aaron Rodgers is still making Mike Tomlin and the Pittsburgh Steelers wait for his final decision about his future. The team is being patient, but it appears that there already is a plan B on the table.
In the event they end up failing to get Rodgers, the Steelers may already know who to turn to. According to May Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, Pittsburgh will switch its attention to Kirk Cousins if Rodgers doesn’t come to town.
“If they don’t land Aaron Rodgers, they’ll likely be interested in Cousins,” wrote Cabot, who also reports that a trade to the Cleveland Browns is unlikely for Cousins, whose future with the Atlanta Falcons looks uncertain.
Cousins could be the Steelers’ alternative to Rodgers
Cousins, who turns 37 in August, was benched for rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. at the end of the 2024 NFL season after an underwhelming first year in Atlanta, where he threw for 3,508 yards, 18 touchdowns and 16 interceptions in 14 games.
Kirk Cousins #18 of the Atlanta Falcons warms up prior to a game against the New York Giants at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 22, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Before that, the Falcons handed him a four-year, $180 million deal. The contract includes a no-trade clause, which means Cousins will have a say before the team can send him elsewhere this offseason. If the Steelers want to get him, the quarterback will have to approve the move first.
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Even though his arrival wouldn’t generate the Rodgers kind of excitement, Cousins would still provide significant experience to the Steelers QB room. With 159 starts under his belt, Cousins has passed for 42,979 yards, 288 touchdowns and 126 interceptions in 13 seasons in the NFL.
Tomlin denies Steelers prioritizing certain candidates
In the meantime, Tomlin denied that the Steelers are ranking their options at quarterback this offseason. According to the head coach, the team is just exploring their possibilities ahead of next season.
“I don’t know if we are identifying anything as plan A, plan B or plan C. We’re just simply looking at the field of available people, whether it’s free agency or the draft and making decisions and gathering information accordingly,” Tomlin said Sunday.
With Russell Wilson and Justin Fields no longer in the Steel City, the team brought back Mason Rudolph to have an experienced player in the QB room. While Tomlin made it clear that he could be the starter instead of Rodgers, he also anticipated that the team still plans to add at the position.
Tomlin expects Steelers to add at QB, still uncertain about Rodgers
“We’re optimistic about the room that we’re constructing. Obviously, we’re excited about having Mason Rudolph back. But certainly we’re going to continue to explore all our options in terms of rounding that room out,” Tomlin added.
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The Steelers head coach also addressed the Rodgers situation, denying setting any deadline for the quarterback. Tomlin looked happy about A-Rod’s visit to Pittsburgh earlier this month, but just like the rest of the league, he has no idea whether it will have an effect on Rodgers’ final decision.
