The one-year, $13.65M contract that included $10M in assured cash and has a most worth of $19.5M that quarterback Aaron Rodgers signed to hitch the Pittsburgh Steelers is sort of a discount for the membership contemplating what different signal-callers will make through the upcoming marketing campaign.
On Monday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Community and Mike Florio of Professional Soccer Speak touched upon why Rodgers agreed to a team-friendly deal.
“The Steelers aren’t finished constructing,” Rapoport stated throughout a Monday look on “The Pat McAfee Present,” per Alex Kozora of Steelers Depot. “That is type of why you do it. You are taking a low wage and also you say, ‘I am not doing this for the cash.’ And also you form of simply hope the group masses up round you. I might additionally say I at all times form of weirdly obtained the sense that Rodgers was uncomfortable making a lot cash.”
Pittsburgh is expected to signal star pass-rusher T.J. Watt to a contract extension and in addition add a weapon equivalent to present New York Jets broad receiver Allen Lazard or Romeo Doubs of the Inexperienced Bay Packers earlier than Week 1.
For his article revealed on Monday afternoon, Florio wrote that Rodgers’ deal might assist the Steelers because it pertains to probably making a transfer earlier than the in-season commerce deadline arrives this coming fall.
“We’re instructed that Rodgers would’ve performed for even lower than the deal he signed, however that [agent David Dunn] pushed him to take extra,” Florio added. “…It’s nonetheless not recognized how Rodgers can pump up his pay from $13.65M to $19.5M. There’s speak that one issue to unlock the utmost bundle is successful the Tremendous Bowl.”
Months after the Jets acquired Rodgers from the Packers within the spring of 2023, he accepted a significant pay cut to assist Gang Inexperienced construct round him. He then went down with a torn Achilles in September of that yr, and he was banged up all through the 2024 season that the Jets completed at 5-12.
In accordance with the Spotrac website, Rodgers has earned over $380M from simply his NFL contracts throughout his Corridor of Fame profession. Thus, he might simply afford to provide the Steelers some monetary reduction forward of what might be his closing season as an lively participant.