Aaron Rodgers still hasn’t made a decision on his future. While Omar Khan said he expected an answer sooner rather than later, the Pittsburgh Steelers might have to wait a while once again if they want to sign Rodgers. Perhaps they should explore other quarterback options in the meantime. Analyst Tyler Sullivan thinks that soon-to-be free agent Malik Willis is the signal caller the Steelers should be pursuing.
“I think Malik Willis is the most interesting for them,” Sullivan said Wednesday on CBS Sports HQ. “We are all pegging him to potentially be that next guy to fall in line with Daniel Jones and Sam Darnold for these guys that we once thought of as interesting prospects, highly touted prospects fallen by the wayside. Then, all of a sudden, they’ve resurrected themselves…
“It really does feel like he has the makings of being that next veteran to revitalize his career. If you’re Pittsburgh, I think you have to see that one through. I think that you would much rather roll the dice here with Malik Willis than say, ‘Aaron Rodgers, come on back. Let’s see what we can do in 2026.’ I think the ceiling is a lot higher here for Pittsburgh to go after a player like Malik Willis.”
Willis was seen as an incredibly raw prospect coming out of college. He was a 2022 third-round pick by the Tennessee Titans, and he only started three games there, all in his rookie year. While he didn’t show much then, he got traded to the Green Bay Packers in 2024. He once again logged three starts, although he showed more promise in 2025.
As a result, Willis figures to be one of the hottest free agent quarterbacks on the market. He turns 27 in May, so he could be a team’s long-term answer under center.
However, the Steelers shouldn’t be the team that takes a gamble on Willis. His sample size is incredibly small, and he’s expected to get a decently sized contract. The Steelers have a lot of needs and a veteran roster. Blowing a lot of money on Willis might not be a wise decision.
Could the Steelers’ ceiling be higher with Willis versus Rodgers? Yes, but their floor could also be much lower. They want to compete for a Super Bowl in 2026. Willis has 155 pass attempts in four seasons, so there’s no guarantee that he can actually be a viable starting quarterback over the course of an entire season.
The Steelers need to find their next franchise quarterback, and Rodgers isn’t the answer to that problem. However, Willis likely wouldn’t be, either. The Steelers need to turn to the draft if they want to find a long-term starter under center. At least with Rodgers, they would be able to move on next year. Signing Willis could leave them with more problems than solutions.
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