Packers reporter: ‘Pittsburgh is a viable option’ for Aaron Rodgers if he exits Green Bay after 2021
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On Thursday, we described the Pittsburgh Steelers as a “long shot” to acquire Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers next season.
Assuming Ben Roethlisberger retires. Which seems to be a safer assumption with every passing week.
As it turns out, maybe we were underselling the prospect of Rodgers trading in his cheesehead for a Terrible Towel in 2022.
During Friday’s “Breakfast With Benz” podcast, Packers beat writer Matt Schneidman (The Athletic) claimed that Pittsburgh is a logical landing spotfor Rodgers if he forces his way out of Green Bay after this season.
“If he does leave, I think that Pittsburgh is definitely a viable option. … I don’t think it is too far-fetched,” Schneidman said. “They have a really good roster around (Roethlisberger) right now. Maybe minus the offensive line. If you can get that shored up, I don’t see why Aaron Rodgers wouldn’t want to go there.”
Schneidman said the two teams that got the most attention as potential destinations if Rodgers left before the 2021 season began were Las Vegas and Denver. Both those teams are off to 3-0 starts with Derek Carr and Teddy Bridgewater piloting their respective offenses. But as Schneidman said, Rodgers would still be an upgrade over either quarterback in 2022.
So expect them to still be in the mix, along with many other teams if there is a sweepstakes for the reigning NFL MVP. Plus, there’s a question if Rodgers actually wants to push his way out via trade in the first place.
Rodgers’ newly reworked contract certainly sets up for a potential trade and restructure with a new organization. His vocal discontent this offseason suggests that may happen. But Schneidman believes how this year ends will go a long way toward Rodgers making up his mind.
“My wild guess is that if they don’t win the Super Bowl, then he’ll be gone to try and prove that he can do it somewhere else,” Schneidman said. “If they do win the Super Bowl, I think he’ll want to stay to try to build a dynasty if they want to keep him. Obviously, you’d need more than one super for that.”
And, likely, another reconfigured contract to adjust the $46 million cap hit he has on the books for 2022.
So don’t blame Packers fans if there are some emotional ups and downs this fall.
“It’s a lot of just enjoying the present. Because this offseason was chaotic. I don’t know if Packer fans know if this is going to be his last year or not. I still don’t know,” Schneidman said.
Even if the Steelers can pull off an acceptable trade package and salary structure to Rodgers’ liking, the question remains if he would think the Steelers supporting cast is good enough. Despite Rodgers’ recent verbal bouquets to the city of Pittsburgh, the franchise and coach Mike Tomlin on “The Pat McAfee Show,” one has to wonder if he’d want to spend even a snap behind that putrid Steelers offensive line.
Especially since the Packers offensive line — once it gets healthy — should be better than the one in Pittsburgh. In fact, even with David Bakhtiari and Elgton Jenkins injured, it probably still is.
“Offensive line will not be the reason he wants to go elsewhere if he does,” Schneidman said. “David Bakhtiari is here long term (through 2024). Elgton Jenkins will be. The center (Josh Myers) and right guard (Royce Newman) are rookies. He’s got a really good offensive line. Maybe not the No. 1 offensive line in football like it was last year. But he has got a good one.”
In terms of skill position comparisons, Rodgers’ top running back, Aaron Jones, has a deal through 2024. But Schneidman says Rodgers’ opinion on that front will likely be influenced by how the team handles wide receiver Davante Adams’ pending free agency.
“A lot of it depends on where Davante Adams is,” Schneidman said. “Davante Adams believes he should be the highest (paid) in annual average value. The Packers do not. If Davante Adams stays here, then you have to look at Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Allen Lazard — their No. 2 and 3 receivers — who are also free agents after this season. So, it is impossible to know which one of those guys the Packers will still have.”
As for the Steelers, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Eric Ebron could be gone after this season. But Diontae Johnson has at least one more year here. Chase Claypool has two. Najee Harris and Pat Freiermuth are only rookies. So, if Adams winds up somewhere besides Green Bay, that crop of talent is at least a push, or advantage Pittsburgh.
There’s still a long way to go before there’s a new Mr. Ro(d)gers as our neighbor. But based on what Schneidman says, the idea doesn’t have to be restricted to the Neighborhood of Make Believe.
Also in our podcast, Schneidman and I discuss Sunday’s game between the Steelers and Packers. We figure out which team has had the bigger “anomaly game” and talk about the Packers’ future and how they’ll match up with T.J. Watt if he plays.
Listen: Tim Benz and Matt Schneidman talk about the Steelers-Packers game