The Pittsburgh Steelers are preparing for the worst.
As they continue to wait for Aaron Rodgers, the franchise has a contingency plan should the 41-year-old not put pen to paper.
Aaron Rodgers is yet to officially sign with the SteelersGettyAnd that contingency plans includes multiple veterans, according to Steelers beat writer Gerry Dulac of the Post-Gazette.
“I believe and have been told that if it’s not Aaron Rodgers, that we’ll find a veteran quarterback to back up Mason Rudolph,” Dulac said during a radio appearance on 102.5 DVE.
Many believe those veteran quarterbacks to include Kirk Cousins, who is currently on a $37.5 million contract with the Atlanta Falcons.
It also includes Super Bowl winner Carson Wentz, who has made over $132 million during his career.
Wentz was the Philadelphia Eagles‘ starting quarterback for their championship season in 2017, although he didn’t play a playoff game that year.
Wentz was also the Kansas City Chiefs‘ backup to Patrick Mahomes last season and has a 2-1 record with them.
Other free-agent quarterbacks on the market include Ryan Tannehill, Tyler Huntley and Desmond Ridder.
The relatively limited options are a result of the Steelers’ patience with Rodgers.
Remember, they passed on multiple quarterbacks in April’s NFL draft, including Shedeur Sanders, before selecting Will Howard in the sixth round, as many claimed they built their strategy around Rodgers playing for them.
Before the draft, Rodgers reportedly made it clear to the franchise that they can move on should they not want to wait for him.
The waiting game hasn’t boded well with potential future teammates, as reports claim players there have grown frustrated with the lack of progress around Rodgers’ arrival.
Super Bowl champion Carson Wentz is on the Steelers’ shortlistGETTY Steelers training camp begins in just over a monthGETTYThis is unsurprising when considering OTAs have started and training camp is fast approaching.
More uncertainty has also been thrown into Rodgers’ situation by his personal biographer Ian O’Connor, who suggested a verbal agreement was in place between Pittsburgh and the four-time MVP.
“I just think verbally, behind the scenes, not that he guaranteed it, but he’s told [the Steelers], ‘Listen, I’m going to play for you,” O’Connor said during an interview with 93.7 The Fan in Pittsburgh.
“‘I just don’t want to go there and then miss part of mandatory minicamp because of my personal issues. I’m pretty sure they’re going to be solved by the end of May, at least in my satisfaction where I can give you my all,’” O’Connor said.
However, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero has dismissed that suggestion.
“I have been told that he has not affirmatively told the Steelers that he’s coming,” Pelissero said.
“Certainly all the indications, if you look at it logically, are that he’s coming based on his comments about, ‘There’s a team that plays in Chicago (this year) that I might play for,’ ‘I’m not playing in New Orleans.’
“He took one visit, he’s been throwing with DK Metcalf, he talks all the time with (head coach) Mike Tomlin, I know he’s talked with (offensive coordinator) Arthur Smith.
“There’s all these signs that he’s coming but he’s not affirmatively said, ‘Hey, June 9, book me the ticket, I’m coming in and I’m going to join this team.’ That has not happened as of this point.”
Some have argued that the Steelers Tomlin’s patience with Rodgers has enabled the four-time NFL MVP to exploit their generosity.
“Yes, they’re operating as if the guy is going to be there, but every day that goes by, you just have that sense of A- what’s the holdup? Why does it have to be like this?” Pelissero continued.
“And B- is it possible that one of the most unique people in the NFL in the modern era ends up making a unique U-turn at the end of this thing?”
Rodgers’ final $30m Steelers decision has already been given a ‘drop-dead date’ with the NFL Dublin game critical.
The Steelers will likely have to sign someone under center, otherwise, they’ll enter the season with one of the weakest quarterback rooms in the NFL
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