Aaron Rodgers has to sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers first. So far, that wait has extended into another calendar month, and it may take until June for there to finally be clarity. But assuming Rodgers signs, what if Mike McCarthy and Rodgers’ vision doesn’t go as planned? The Steelers falter, their season gets away from them, and Pittsburgh is headed toward its first losing season since 2003. What then?
Doug Whaley has an answer.
“I would say, ‘Omar, let’s go try to trade him,” Whaley said on 93.7 The Fan Wednesday morning. “That’s what I would do. You’re not gonna get much…But some team might say, maybe the Cardinals, lemme bring him in. Do some stuff like that. That’s what I would do.”
Whaley’s answer was in response to the hypothetical that Pittsburgh is 3-7 midway through the season with little hope of climbing back into the playoff race. It would be a difficult situation no matter the decision. McCarthy could bench Rodgers and turn to a young quarterback like Will Howard or Drew Allar to increase the evaluation ahead of 2027’s potentially excellent quarterback draft class. That would, however, create an awkward situation and possibly frustrate Rodgers.
In theory, Pittsburgh could try to trade him. Rodgers has no market right now and if the Steelers are struggling, it’s doubtful he’s recouped value. Still, quarterback is a scarce and valuable position with leaguewide injuries impacting the landscape. Last year, Joe Burrow’s injury paved the way for a rare AFC North with the Cleveland Browns sending Joe Flacco to the Cincinnati Bengals.
As Whaley notes, Rodgers’ value would be minimal. He’d likely garner a Day 3 selection. Flacco’s deal netted a fifth-round pick with the Browns also giving up a sixth.
Like the recent increase in Arizona Cardinals speculation, this is idle talk to get through the offseason and fill time until Rodgers provides an answer. Radio fodder turned into a blog article – the system is working.
In the unlikely event of a trade, any inquiring team would need to suffer an injury and still remain playoff competitive. That could eliminate a suggested team like the Cardinals. Even without a no-trade clause, Rodgers would have agency in any potential deal and would need to sign off on it to facilitate the move.
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