Aaron Rodgers deadline update shows Steelers are running out of patience

How long are the Pittsburgh Steelers willing to wait for Aaron Rodgers? Well, according to one NFL insider, it might not be that much longer.

According to Josina Anderson, the Steelers notified Rodgers earlier this week that they would like a decision about his future before the 2025 NFL draft. Anderson revealed that the desired deadline was at least 48 hours before the draft.

"I'm told the Steelers communicated with Aaron Rodgers at the beginning of the week that they would like to receive an answer from him before the Draft (at least 48 hours), per league source," Anderson wrote.

Well, either Rodgers made his decision and we just don't know about it yet, or the future Hall of Fame quarterback did not oblige. Either scenario is possible at this point.

The Steelers decided not to take a quarterback in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft, which only makes them more dependent on Rodgers.

Granted, the team could still take one in the third round or later (the Steelers don't have a second-round pick), but the longer Pittsburgh waits, the less likely their roookie quarterback will be ready to start in Year 1.

Without Rodgers signed, the Steelers will be left with Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson, which is less than ideal considering neither player is a starting-caliber quarterback, let alone a better option than Rodgers.

The team could also opt to trade for Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins, who the team has been linked to in rumors, but he's not an ideal option, either, after he looked like a shell of himself in 2024.

The Steelers can give Rodgers all the deadlines they want, but the fact of the matter is that the team's 2025 hopes are riding on the 41-year-old's decision, leaving the team between a rock and a hard place.

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