First Call: Giants reportedly offer more money to Aaron Rodgers than Steelers; another possible QB option for Pittsburgh

Friday’s “First Call” has an off-the-wall suggestion to fill the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback void. We play follow-the-money with Aaron Rodgers’ contract talks. I’ll give you the latest on the potential Round 2 version of Kenny Pickett-plus-Russell Wilson in Cleveland.

And a former Steelers offensive lineman has a new team.

Big Apple, big money

If Aaron Rodgers’ decision about where to play hinges on money, then he is going to wind up in New York. At least that’s what the latest report from The Athletic’s Dianna Russini would suggest.

“From what I understand, the New York Giants are the team right now that has offered the most,” Russini said on the “Scoop City” podcast. “But they also have the least to offer.”

The Giants only have $31.8 million in cap space right now, according to OverTheCap.com. Plus they had a 3-14 record last year. The Steelers have $46.3 million, and the Minnesota Vikings have $49.4 million.

According to Russini, the Vikings have yet to make an offer to Rodgers, but they are still considering entering the fray despite having last year’s No. 1 pick, J.J. McCarthy, as an option to step in for the departed Sam Darnold.

She also said on the “Gojo and Golic Show” that the Giants are starting to get frustrated with Rodgers’ decision-making process and want to move things along, but the Steelers are forced to sit back in wait-and-see mode.

The Athletics' Dianna Russini says contracts have been discussed with both the Steelers and Giants and with Aaron Rodgers' reps, but they haven't discussed much with him directly. Mentions the Vikings are lurking. #Steelers #NFL pic.twitter.com/qODbisYsus

— Steelers Depot 7⃣ (@Steelersdepot) March 13, 2025

Also, on the quarterback front, Kyle Allen is signing in Detroit. That’s via the NFL Network’s via Mike Garafolo. Allen threw one pass as a Steeler last year. It was a 19-yard strike to Pat Freiermuth against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 5. He’ll join a QB room with Hendon Hooker and Jake Fromm behind starter Jared Goff.

Where is this going?

It appears we still have a long way to go before we get to the Bizarro World scenario of Kenny Pickett and Russell Wilson as teammates in Cleveland.

Remember, last year, the Steelers acquired Russell Wilson, which resulted in Kenny Pickett asking for a trade. He was granted one to Philadelphia. After picking up a Super Bowl ring there as a backup, Pickett was then shipped to Cleveland last week, only to find out a few days later that Wilson was coming in to speak with the Browns about perhaps moving to Cleveland.

“I do view myself as a starter,” Pickett said during a press conference Thursday. “I’m sure they’re going to bring in another veteran, and who knows what else after that. But, I’m excited to be here and compete with whoever.”

Kenny Pickett speaks to the media for his introductory press conference https://t.co/rL0cEAqCm0

— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) March 13, 2025

According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, Wilson left Ohio without a contract and will visit the New York Giants tomorrow.

From The Insiders on @NFLNetwork: Russell Wilson wrapped up his visit with the #Browns and heads to the #Giants tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/dSnIoYJYTN

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 13, 2025

Meanwhile, to complete the circle, Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com says that if the Steelers lose out on Rodgers, expect the club to go with Cleveland’s Jameis Winston.

One for the road

Here’s one last quarterback angle. Stick with me on this one.

Prior to the start of free agency, Mike Silver of The Athletic published a story about how the San Francisco 49ers may be shifting an organizational approach away from laying out so much cash to attain players. The organization spent an NFL-high $334 million in actual money (not cap dollars) last year.

Sure enough, there has been a mass exodus of players from the 49ers, including former Steelers Javon Hargrave, Deebo Samuel, Charvarius Ward, Talanoa Hufanga, Leonard Floyd, Dre Greenlaw and fullback Kyle Juszczyk (who visited Pittsburgh on Thursday).

In the piece, Silver said the following about the looming contract negotiations for quarterback Brock Purdy.

”A deal should be doable, but it’s easy to see how things could get messy. The 49ers can freely proclaim to the world that Purdy remains under contract — he’s due to earn $5.2 million in 2025 — and could theoretically be franchised in each of the following two seasons. Conversely, Purdy’s camp can float the possibility of a holdout, something that could potentially hijack the 2025 offseason in a manner that would make last year’s Brandon Aiyuk saga look like a warm-up act.”

Since then, one of the few players the Niners have added is quarterback Mac Jones, who was liked by head coach Kyle Shanahan in the 2021 NFL Draft before the team settled on Trey Lance.

When I read that article, I said on 105.9 The X last week that Steelers fans should brace themselves for some conversation about Purdy potentially coming to Pittsburgh.

Sure enough, on Thursday, Chris Canty of ESPN Radio’s ”Unsportsmanlike” broached the topic.

“They’re not great at being able to find quarterbacks. And the San Francisco 49ers are already gutting themselves. So it feels like a phone call you should make,” Canty said of inquiring about Purdy. “They’ll probably tell you (no). But at least you make the phone call.”

I wouldn’t expect much traction on this story over the next few months. But if the Steelers don’t wind up with Wilson or Rodgers, and approach training camp with Mason Rudolph atop the depth chart while Purdy’s contract negotiations are bumpy … check back with me late July.

Maybe we can spend a second consecutive summer paying more attention to San Francisco than Saint Vincent College. Maybe #AiyukWatch can be replaced by #PurdyToPGH.

More sports

• DK Metcalf embraces change of scenery with Steelers while awaiting decision at quarterback
• Call him ‘Kenny G,’ call him a Super Bowl champ, Kenneth Gainwell eager to add to Steelers run game
• Steelers bring back QB Mason Rudolph

Checking on Chuks

So much for Chuks Okorafor’s absence from football.

The former Steelers offensive tackle is back in the NFL. He’ll be blocking for Justin Fields in New York now. The Jets signed him to a one-year contract worth $4 million.

The 27-year-old had been cut loose by New England in February. He was named the Week 1 starting left tackle but was benched before the game was over. So he left the team.

The Pats then suspended him without pay, and Okorafor ended up sitting out the rest of 2024. Now he is back in the AFC East.

Okorafor was drafted by the Steelers out of Western Michigan in 2018. He started 59 games in Pittsburgh before being benched midway through 2023 for mouthing off on the sideline during a loss to Jacksonville. He was replaced at right tackle by Broderick Jones for the rest of that year.