Steelers' delay in signing Packers legend Aaron Rodgers helped avoid an 'unbalanced schedule'

It’s now mid-May, and the Pittsburgh Steelers have yet to sign a veteran quarterback. While they currently have three QBs on the roster, none of them are proven at the NFL level. Rumors have swirled for some time that the Steelers could land future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers.

A decision could be coming soon, especially with the NFL schedule having been released on Wednesday night. There have been several hints suggesting that Rodgers and the Steelers are likely to reach an agreement; it now seems to be a matter of when, not if. Mike Florio speculated that any announcement would come after the schedule release.

“If you’re Rodgers, don’t you just at this point wait until after the schedule is out?” Mike Florio said. “Because it’s not like the Steelers are gonna get fewer primetime games than what they’d otherwise get.”

Interestingly, prior to the schedule release, a leak revealed that the Steelers will open the season against the New York Jets—Rodgers' former team. Rich Eisen believes that matchup is a clear sign of what’s to come.

“It does appear that the NFL believes Aaron Rodgers will be the starting quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Otherwise, why would they put the Steelers in the home of the New York Jets Week 1?" Eisen said.

Ari Meirov also suggested that the delay in signing Rodgers may have actually benefited Pittsburgh from a scheduling standpoint.

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“The Steelers not having a QB yet — and the uncertainty around Aaron Rodgers — may have worked in their favor. They got just 4 primetime games. If Rodgers had signed, they likely would’ve had 6+ and some holiday slots like the Jets had the last two years, which would’ve made for a much more unbalanced schedule,” Meirov said.

Fewer holiday and primetime games could work to the Steelers' advantage, as these often come with shorter rest periods. Having more balanced scheduling might give Pittsburgh a more manageable path through the season.

For now, it remains to be seen whether Aaron Rodgers will actually sign with the Steelers—but the signs continue to point in that direction.