Steelers predicted to trade for 28-year-old quarterback if Aaron Rodgers doesn't come back

The Pittsburgh Steelers have a major question mark at the quarterback position.

That was the case last year, also, before Aaron Rodgers finally decided to sign in Pittsburgh. Now, it isn't clear if Rodgers will be back or if he'll decide to play elsewhere or just retire.

If Rodgers doesn't come back, the Steelers will be in a precarious spot, as Rodgers' departure will leave Pittsburgh with Mason Rudolph and Will Howard. We know Rudolph isn't a starting-caliber quarterback, and the jury is still out on Howard, who didn't play a single snap in 2025.

But YardBarker's Seth Trachtman has an idea: he predicts a trade between the Steelers and San Francisco 49ers that would send Mac Jones to Pittsburgh.

"The Steelers must address quarterback again this offseason, among other spots. As they search for a long-term option under Mike McCarthy, Jones is a possibility. He has one year remaining on his deal with the 49ers, netting less than $4 million, and could be an answer for the Steelers to acquire and sign long-term," Trachtman said.

This prediction makes sense for the Steelers.

Jones revived his career with the 49ers this past season and would be a solid bridge option with potential long-term upside if things pan out, as Jones will only be 28 years old once the 2026 campaign begins.

The Steelers can bring Jones in and have him start for one season and then make a decision on his future after that. If the veteran doesn't pan out, the Steelers can turn their attention to the 2027 draft, when the quarterback class will be better.

It also makes sense for the Niners to trade Jones. His stock may never be higher than it is now and the Niners could land a solid draft pick for him, which is important for a team with an eye on the future.

However, head coach Kyle Shanahan has said he envisions Jones being with the team in 2026, so that's important to note.

“You always listen to people with trade offers. We’re also not into getting rid of good players, so I’d be very surprised if Mac wasn’t around us next year,” Shanahan said.

The Niners' motivation to keep Jones pertains to having a strong insurance policy for Brock Purdy in case of injury.

But we believe that the Niners will ultimately get an offer for Jones that they won't be able to pass up on, and we could see the Steelers being the team that makes that offer.

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