PITTSBURGH Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin could decide on the team’s next quarterback if free agent Aaron Rodgers turns them down.
The Steelers have been linked with another veteran quarterback during the offseason.
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Pittsburgh has been in a standoff with Rodgers, who recently revealed he would be more than happy to sign for a one-year, $10 million contract, for about a month.
In the meantime, the Steelers have been in wait-and-see mode while adding youth to their quarterback room.
The franchise drafted Ohio State signal-caller Will Howard in the sixth round of last week’s NFL Draft.
But the Steelers will likely revert to the veteran route, whether it’s Rodgers or possibly trading for Atlanta Falcons’ Kirk Cousins, who’s been linked with the team.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport believes that there’s one trade partner in the Steelers for the Falcons after the NFL Draft, but that Cousins is now more open to remaining in Atlanta.
“I was keeping track, trying to figure out, if he leaves Atlanta where he might go? I think if your good friend Rodgers does not go to Pittsburgh, I think that would be a possibility,” Rapoport said on The Pat McAfee Show on Monday.
Rapoport seemed to throw cold water on Cousins’ fit with the Minnesota Vikings and Cleveland Browns – two teams who have also been linked with the 36-year-old.
“But it feel sto me that their other possibilities, kind of don’t exist. People talked about the Vikings, OK, they traded for Sam Howe.. People talked about maybe the Browns, I don’t know if you guys know this, but they drafted a second quarterback in Shedeur Sanders,” Rapoport added.
“So I don’t think he’s going there.
Rapoport continued to share the belief that he will be the Falcons’ backup for the 2025 season.
“He’s got family in Atlanta. He’s got a no-trade clause. I’m not sure he’s going to go anywhere unless something crazy happens where he’d be able to go be the starter,” he said.
Cousins lost his starting job to then-rookie Michael Penix Jr. in Week 15 after throwing a league-high 16 interceptions.
He signed a four-year, $180 million contract last offseason.
Cousins has a no-trade clause, and has told the Falcons that he wants to spend the rest of his NFL career as a starter.
The Steelers could give the four-time Pro Bowler the chance to be a starter.
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The franchise’s quarterback room consists of Mason Rudolph, Skylar Thompson, and the rookie Howard
But it’s likely the Steelers are waiting on a decision from the four-time NFL MVP, who visited the team’s facility last month and is contemplating retirement.
Owner Art Rooney II did reveal on Friday that Rodgers “does want to come” to the franchise.
“We’re still kind of getting the same signals that we’ve been getting recently,” Rooney told Steelers Nation Radio.
“He does want to come here, so I do think we may get word soon.”