The Pittsburgh Steelers and Aaron Rodgers officially agreed to terms on a new contract to bring Rodgers back to Pittsburgh for 2026. But ESPN’s Ben Solak thinks the Steelers should’ve looked at a different quarterback and let Rodgers ride off into the sunset.
“While free agency is never rich with elite passers, there were better options for the Steelers than this. Kyler Murray would have been an outright better and far cheaper player — he signed with the Vikings for the veteran minimum of $1.3 million dollars. The likelihood Murray gets hot for a playoff run is quite small but not nonexistent. With Rodgers, it practically is.”
Murray would’ve been cheaper than Rodgers, but Rodgers has familiarity with the team, now entering his second season with the Steelers, and his head coach. He played under Mike McCarthy with the Green Bay Packers, and there was a level of comfort with Rodgers that made bringing him back an easy decision.
Of course, it’s a decision that has it’s drawbacks. Rodgers is limited at 42 years old when it comes to his mobility and he’d rather get rid of the ball in the blink of an eye than take a hit. The Steelers offense was heavily reliant on YAC last season, largely because of how quickly Rodgers was getting rid of the ball.
I don’t know if I necessarily agree that Muray is more capable of getting hot and leading a team on a deep playoff run than Rodgers, who has already won a Super Bowl. He’s not the same quarterback he was when he did, but he’s a veteran and a future Hall of Famer. I’m ok with the Steelers taking their chances with Rodgers, even for more money, than rolling the dice on Murray.
There’s no reason to think the Steelers can’t return to the postseason after going 10-7 and winning the AFC North with Rodgers under center last season. Last season, the Steelers ran into the Houston Texans and their formidable defense that completely dominated the game, and I don’t think having Murray changes the outcome of that game much.
With improved weapons, Rodgers should be in line for a better season, especially with a new coaching staff, and we’ll see if that means the Steelers can finally win a playoff game for the first time in nearly a decade.
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