NFL free agency news at quarterback raises alarms for Steelers as they wait on Aaron Rodgers
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Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
On the surface, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ brass has remained cool under pressure as they await the retirement decision of quarterback Aaron Rodgers, but the latest NFL free agency news might increase some heart rates a little bit.
Four more veteran quarterback options officially came off the board on March 24, with the headliner being Joe Flacco — a very capable starting option if Rodgers elected to retire. The other three were Andy Dalton, whose trade to Philadelphia became official, and lesser free agents Zach Wilson and Trevor Siemian.
QB deals today:
🏈Zach Wilson to the Saints.🏈Joe Flacco to the Bengals.🏈Trevor Siemian to the Falcons.🏈Andy Dalton to the Eagles. https://t.co/AAeKI1gf5n
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 25, 2026
Now, outside of Flacco, these names probably aren’t better options than current QBs Mason Rudolph and Will Howard anyway, but there’s a larger issue here. The NFL quarterback market is drying up fast, and the Steelers could be left without a viable starter if Rodgers hangs them out to dry.
The top targets heading into free agency have mostly signed or been traded. That list includes Kyler Murray, Malik Willis, Daniel Jones, Tua Tagovailoa, and Geno Smith.
Then, beyond that, most of the second-tier quarterbacks have found new homes, too. Signal-callers like Justin Fields, Marcus Mariota, Carson Wentz, Teddy Bridgewater, Gardner Minshew, and Flacco, among others.
As of March 25, there are still a few available free agents with legitimate starting experience.
One is Russell Wilson, which would be an odd turn of events that most Steelers fans would likely be against. There’s also Kirk Cousins, Jimmy Garoppolo, Tyrod Taylor, newly released Joshua Dobbs, and the rumor that Derek Carr might be willing to come out of retirement. But who knows how long this group will last on the open market.
The Steelers are playing a very dangerous game, considering their win-now roster. And the longer they wait on Rodgers, the more alarming this situation becomes.
Latest Known Aaron Rodgers News as Steelers Play Waiting Game Once Again
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GettyThe Pittsburgh Steelers are once again waiting on quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
If you remember back to the 2026 NFL Combine, it’s easy to see that the Steelers’ QB plan has gone off the rails.
General manager Omar Khan made it clear from the get-go that he did not expect Rodgers’ 2026 decision to take as long as it did in 2025. And yet, here we are heading into draft season without a verdict.
The Steelers have also made it clear that they want Rodgers back. Although both Khan and new head coach Mike McCarthy have expressed confidence in players like Rudolph and Howard.
Still, even the most brazen Rudolph and Howard supporters would likely admit that the Super Bowl dream goes out the window without Rodgers at quarterback.
Having said that, what’s the latest on the Rodgers front? Just this week, on March 23, former Green Bay Packers teammate and close friend AJ Hawk revealed that he has been texting Rodgers throughout the offseason.
“No joke, I’ve been sending him texts,” Hawk said on The Pat McAfee Show. “Telling him: ‘Hey, Aaron, you gotta go back, you need to go play for Pittsburgh, you need to play for Big Mike.’ He’ll either say ‘shut up,’ or nothing.”
That’s not exactly a response that expresses confidence Rodgers will return.
The Quarterback Free Agency News Has Put the Steelers in Between a Rock & a Hard Place
As stated above, there are still a few decent quarterback options remaining, outside of simply trusting in Howard and Rudolph in 2026.
Cousins has been a very capable starter when healthy. Maybe the organization reunites with Dobbs, or goes out on a limb for Carr.
There’s also the 2026 NFL Draft, although some believe this quarterback class has just one NFL-ready prospect (Fernando Mendoza), and the Steelers will not get him.
Pittsburgh has shown interest in Carson Beck, among others, but Beck would likely be on a similar level as Howard. The other possible first-round name is Alabama QB Ty Simpson.
Either way, Rodgers’ slow decision-making process and the fast-moving free agent market have put the Steelers in between a rock and a hard place. They may never admit it publicly, but this was never part of their plan.
Khan’s actions this offseason have supported an expectation that Rodgers will return. They’ve supported the idea of one last push for a Super Bowl title with players like Cameron Heyward and T.J. Watt. If Rodgers decides he’s not interested, this entire 2026 season might go up in flames.