“Listen, this entire time I haven’t felt like I owed somebody any decision at some point.” Aaron Rodgers confessed on The Pat McAfee Show this week. Like a man saying: Open to anything… Attached to nothing. No concrete commitment as of yet for 2025. No word on whether he will play or retire. Just a camera-ready smile shrouded in philosophical ambiguity. And with that quote, Mike Tomlin’s phone must have lit up like a Christmas tree in mid-April. Because if Rodgers is “open to anything,” then Pittsburgh’s QB room, which is looking like the NFL’s most awkward group chat, could use a guy who’s at least open to something.

Because this is the Steelers’ current depth chart: Justin Fields? Off to the Jets. Mason Rudolph? Technically there, but emotionally nowhere. Russell Wilson? Gone with the Giants. And with the assurance of a man duct-taping a smoke alarm rather than changing the battery, Art Rooney II took the microphone to tell fans that “the plan is coming together.” So what’s the actual plan? Apparently… a $4 million star.

Underneath the Aaron Rodgers rumour storm, there is a quiet transaction taking place—Sam Howell to the Steelers, like someone dropped a grenade without pulling the trigger. He wasn’t even on the block until lately, which is the worst part. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, “the Seahawks are open to trading Sam Howell and have received enquiries from teams interested in acquiring their backup quarterback.” And to be clear, this isn’t some placeholder guy. This is a 2023 starter who led the entire NFL in pass attempts (612), got sacked 65 times, and still managed to throw for 3,946 yards and 21 touchdowns—more than Fields and Wilson combined.

Then why is he joining a squad that is so confused as to who is going to be their starter? Because Howell may get a chance to be QB1 if and only if Rodgers says no. And the Steelers could actually benefit if Howell is the QB1. He’s a functioning quarterback who survived a full season of trench warfare and came out with stats that scream. Imagine what he can do with a real infrastructure. And that’s exactly what Tomlin might be banking on.

According to reports, Pittsburgh didn’t just casually call Washington for Howell. They went and got him, then quietly picked up his $4 million 2024 cap hit, giving him more financial commitment than Fields ($1.3M) and more statistical relevance than Wilson (who’s playing for the league minimum after Denver’s buyout nightmare).

And, don’t ignore the optics. Steelers executives went shopping as soon as Rodgers said, “open to anything.” Not for a rookie. No, not for a backup. For a guy who recently commanded an entire NFL season while being besieged and remaining unflinching. Aaron Rodgers left the door slightly ajar. Pittsburgh ran through another one—and came out on top with a quarterback who may be the building’s most NFL-ready option. Perhaps Art Rooney II is correct when he states that “the plan is coming together.” Maybe the $4 million quarterback isn’t a last resort. Maybe he is the insurance policy that Pittsburgh truly hopes to profit from.

Steelers’ caught between a Hail Mary and a check down: Aaron Rodgers’ risk vs. Cousins’ cost

On one side, you’ve got Rodgers, saying he’ll play for $10 million and maybe grace you with his presence. On the other side is a 36-year-old, Kirk Cousins, coming off a torn Achilles, still under contract, with a $40 million cap hit and a history of playoff letdowns. Welcome to Pittsburgh’s quarterback dilemma: Rodgers or Cousins.

The pitch from Aaron Rodgers seems too good to be true. Because it kind of is. He says the money doesn’t matter. Like a wealthy man offering to split the cost out of sympathy. He said to Pat McAfee, “I’ll play for $10M.” He claims to have spoken with Mike Tomlin. Often. That there’s mutual respect. And yet, when pressed on where he’ll play—or if he’ll play at all—Rodgers turns into a mood board: “I’m just going through a lot in my personal life… I want to keep the lines of communication open…” The Steelers are staring down the draft, holding a half-full quarterback room, and Rodgers still hasn’t texted back.

So, if the Steelers go with Cousins. The problem is: Kirk Cousins is not a cheap panic button. He is a high-end choice disguised as a backup. Per Mark Kaboly, the Steelers would have to eat $40 million just to bring him in. And that’s before you factor in what it would cost to get him out of Atlanta, where the Falcons are pretending they’re fine hoarding two starting quarterbacks like it’s a fantasy league. And yet… he might be the safer bet.

Cousins will show up on time. He’ll learn the playbook. He’ll throw for 4,000 yards. And he won’t spontaneously vanish into a darkness retreat mid-season. That’s why Gerry Dulac didn’t dance around the idea when Rich Eisen brought it up: “That is part of a thought process.”

This is no longer about who the Steelers want. It’s about who they’re willing to pay for, with either money or patience. Aaron Rodgers brings potential greatness… but also the possibility of total chaos. Cousins brings stability… but at a price that could paralyze their roster flexibility for years. Take your pick, Pittsburgh. Because sitting in the middle only works until someone else makes a move. And if they don’t act soon? The Steelers won’t have a quarterback controversy. They’ll just have no quarterback at all.