Steelers' Aaron Rodgers pursuit will end in free agent signing, or Pittsburgh nightmare after Shedeur Sanders decision

The Pittsburgh Steelers have put all their eggs in the Aaron Rodgers basket.

That's officially the case after Pittsburgh passed on Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders at the No. 21 overall pick on Thursday night in the first round of the NFL Draft.

There was a lot of belief that Sanders wouldn't make it past the Steelers. A selection of Sanders wouldn't have prohibited Pittsburgh from signing Rodgers, but it would've at least left the door open.

Now? It's Rodgers or bust for the Steelers.

They only have Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson in their quarterback room right now.

The Steelers traded a second-round pick to get DK Metcalf. They've got T.J. Watt still in his prime. This is a team that should be trying to contend for a Super Bowl.

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There isn't another QB out there who can conceptually get Pittsburgh to those heights besides Rodgers.

He wasn't perfect in 2024. The Jets only went 5-12, and Rodgers was erratic in his first year back from a torn Achilles.

But he's the best option left. Unless New Orleans swoops in, Pittsburgh is probably Rodgers' only option, too.

He could still retire, which would probably ruin everything for the Steelers.

But it's time for Pittsburgh to start calling Rodgers, getting him to town and encouraging him to sign a free agent contract immediately. It's the only play the Steelers have left.

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