Steelers facing 'inevitable' Aaron Rodgers outcome, writes ESPN analyst

Sometimes, actions do indeed speak louder than anything else.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have revealed with their actions this offseason what their quarterback plan is for the 2026 NFL season, particularly with how it pertains to Aaron Rodgers.

Rodgers, of course, could always throw a wrench into this. He's been known to move to the beat of his own drum.

But the Steelers have let all the obvious alternatives pass them by.

"Pittsburgh has let players such as Kyler Murray, Tua Tagovailoa, Justin Fields and Geno Smith pass by, even though it would have been able to add those quarterbacks on deals that are mostly paid by their former teams," ESPN's Bill Barnwell wrote in a new article on Wednesday. "None of those QBs are guaranteed hits, of course, but none of the alternatives left on the market are, either, and they're going to be older and more expensive."

MORE: Why the Kansas City Chiefs traded for Justin Fields

Why would the Steelers do that? 

Well, if Rodgers is coming back, then they'd have no need for those players.

"The Steelers could go after Kirk Cousins or Jimmy Garoppolo, but a reunion with Rodgers seems inevitable," Barnwell writes.

Rodgers would reunite with Mike McCarthy, the Steelers' new coach with whom Rodgers won a Super Bowl in Green Bay.

"It's worth noting that the long run of Rodgers with McCarthy in Green Bay ended with Rodgers struggling, McCarthy fired and the future Hall of Famer winning back-to-back MVPs after his veteran coach was replaced by Matt LaFleur," Barnwell writes. "But both sides have had positive things to say about the other since then. Rodgers did just enough to propel the Steelers into the postseason a year ago by protecting the football, and that should be what McCarthy wants from his quarterback in 2026."

There isn't enough promise in the 2026 draft class at quarterback, beyond expected No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza, for the Steelers to put their eggs too heavily into that basket.

Rodgers seems to be the man here for another season. Pittsburgh's QB problems, if that holds true, will get kicked a year down the road.

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