Steelers trade pitch adds former $66 million Pro Bowl quarterback over Aaron Rodgers

The 2025 NFL Draft is over, and the Pittsburgh Steelers still don't have a starting-caliber quarterback on the roster. Though the team selected Ohio State's Will Howard in Round 6, the rookie signal-caller isn't capable of being a starter for a playoff team right now and is more of a developmental project.

Obviously, the Steelers are still waiting on Aaron Rodgers to make a decision regarding his football future, but if the future Hall of Famer decides to retire or not sign with Pittsburgh, Bleacher Report's Taylyn Hadley believes general manager Omar Khan and head coach Mike Tomlin should turn their attention towards a trade for Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins.

"As the Pittsburgh Steelers passed on the opportunity to draft a quarterback early in the 2025 draft, they opted for Ohio State’s Will Howard in the sixth round, recognizing the need for a fallback if negotiations with veteran Aaron Rodgers fall through," Hadley wrote.

"Meanwhile, it’s clear that Cousins wants to move on from the Falcons and would bring a similar veteran presence to what Rodgers would — without the Super Bowl ring — if he were not to sign," Hadley added.

Cousins doesn't want to be in Atlanta, as the veteran has already expressed his desire to be a starter to members of the Falcons organization and would be willing to waive his no-trade clause to receive the chance to start for another team.

If the Steelers can't land Rodgers, acquiring Cousins would be a logical backup plan. The 36-year-old is coming off an abysmal 2024 campaign where he tossed 16 interceptions and was benched for Michael Penix Jr. at the end of the year, but a change of scenery in Pittsburgh could lead to a bounce-back season for Cousins.

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Signing Rodgers is the ideal scenario for the Steelers, but if that doesn't come to fruition, a trade for Cousins makes a ton of sense. The four-time Pro Bowler could flourish in Arthur Smith's offense and help Pittsburgh reach the playoffs once again.

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