After months of “will he or will not he” chatter, the Pittsburgh Steelers confirmed on Thursday night that they plan to signal free-agent Aaron Rodgers to a one-year contract, pending a bodily.
Throughout a Thursday look on “SportsCenter,” former Steelers security and present NFL analyst Ryan Clark urged that the membership will finally remorse handing the keys to its offense to Rodgers for the 2025 season.
“That is the worst-case situation for Pittsburgh Steelers followers,” Clark stated about Pittsburgh signing Rodgers, as shared by Troy Montgomery of Steelers Depot. “It continues to maintain you mired in mediocrity. Will this workforce be higher? Have they gotten higher within the quarterback room? Completely. Will they contend for that championship that Pittsburgh Steelers individuals and followers and group suppose is the usual? No, they will not.”
Clark was referencing how the Steelers have not earned a single playoff win below head coach Mike Tomlin because the 2016 season. Most just lately, veteran Russell Wilson helped the 2024 Steelers attain the postseason by profitable six of his first seven begins after he missed the opening six weeks of the marketing campaign because of a lingering calf subject. Nevertheless, Pittsburgh then endured a five-game dropping streak that lasted by the wild-card spherical of the playoffs with Wilson within the lineup.
In line with Pro Football Reference, Wilson ended this previous common season ranked twenty fourth within the NFL amongst certified gamers with a 51.3 adjusted QBR and 14th with a 95.6 passer ranking. To match, Rodgers was twenty eighth with a 48.0 adjusted QBR and tied for twentieth with a 90.5 passer ranking.
That stated, there are reasons to believe the Steelers can have a greater model of Rodgers than what the New York Jets had all through the 2024 marketing campaign. The 41-year-old reportedly dealt with a nagging hip downside, accidents to each his knees, a low ankle sprain and a
serious hamstring issue final fall coming off the torn Achilles he suffered in September 2023. ESPN’s Seth Walder famous that 17 of Rodgers’ “30 quickest top-speed performs final season” got here in Week 13 or later.
As Clark acknowledged, no matter Rodgers is at this stage of his Corridor of Fame profession is probably going an improve for Pittsburgh over longtime backup Mason Rudolph. However, Clark does not see Rodgers reaching way more than what Wilson achieved in his one season with the membership.
“They’re going to be combating for a wild-card spot,” Clark added in regards to the Rodgers-led Steelers. “They’re going to most likely be residence Week 1 of the playoffs and once more be searching for a franchise quarterback. In case you instructed me you are gonna pair considered one of this period’s best coaches with considered one of this period’s best quarterbacks, I might anticipate greatness. That’s not what we’ll get. Possibly six years in the past, however not now.”
As of Friday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook had the Steelers at +110 odds to notch over 8.5 wins throughout the upcoming season. Such forecasts point out sure insiders suppose Rodgers will not have the ability to flip the clock again with Pittsburgh in what could possibly be his last marketing campaign as an energetic NFL participant.
