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The Pittsburgh Steelers added a quarterback to the roster in the 2025 NFL Draft, selecting Ohio State signal-caller Will Howard in Round 6.
Though Howard had a stellar season for the Buckeyes in 2024, he isn't capable of being a starting quarterback in his rookie year, nor is he meant to be. With the Steelers waiting till Day 3 to address the position, it looks like the team is going all in for Aaron Rodgers.
Rodgers has yet to make a decision regarding his football future, and though the 41-year-old could land in Pittsburgh, there's also a chance he will retire after a rough 2024 campaign with the New York Jets.
If the Steelers miss out on Rodgers, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport believes Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins could land in Pittsburgh as the team's backup plan. The four-time Pro Bowler is currently the backup in Atlanta behind Michael Penix Jr.
"If Aaron Rodgers doesn't go to Pittsburgh, I think that's a possibility for Kirk Cousins," Rapoport said on The Pat McAfee Show on Monday.
Rapoport also added that he doesn't believe that there are other possible landing spots for Cousins, who may end up returning as the Falcons backup quarterback.
"It feels like the other possibilities kind of don't exist after the draft," Rapoport said about other possibilities for Cousins. "The longer this goes, it feels like he's gonna be the Falcons backup."
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Though Cousins struggled in 2024 and was benched for Penix at the end of the year, the veteran can still be a solid starting quarterback who could help the Steelers reach the playoffs again. The former third-round pick has started 159 games in his 13-year career and is the best option left on the market besides Rodgers.
Missing out on Rodgers wouldn't be ideal for the Steelers, but it's definitely a possibility, especially with the long wait. Though he won't elevate them into a Super Bowl contender, trading for Cousins is an adequate backup plan for Pittsburgh. They could find ways to win with him at the helm.
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