OTAs are almost here, and Aaron Rodgers still isn\u2019t a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers. This process has dragged on for longer than most people likely anticipated. However, Rodgers stated that he wasn\u2019t committed to anything, being focused on a personal issue. He didn\u2019t rule out retirement, either.<\/p>\n
If the Steelers miss out on Rodgers, they don\u2019t have many other great options to add to their quarterback room. Trading for Kirk Cousins is a possibility, but former NFL general manager Ran Carthon thinks that might be tougher than signing<\/a> Rodgers.<\/p>\n \u201cAs crazy as this might sound, it may be easier to sign Aaron Rodgers at this point than get something done with Kirk Cousins,\u201d Carthon said Monday on CBS Sports HQ.<\/a> \u201cBecause you have to take into account you have to meet Atlanta\u2019s trade value in what they\u2019re probably looking for in terms of compensation there. But then, you also have to be able to fit Kirk Cousin\u2019s cap number under your cap.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s another dynamic that you have to work through because now are you asking Atlanta to take on a portion of that salary?\u201d Carthon added. \u201cAnd if so, then that\u2019s gonna increase the compensation for the draft, and are you willing to do that? Are you willing to eat the high cap number that he carries?\u201d<\/p>\n With how the Rodgers saga has gone in Pittsburgh, some fans might not believe what Carthon is saying. At times, getting an update on Rodgers has felt like pulling teeth. While it seems very likely that he\u2019ll sign with the Steelers, that\u2019s not guaranteed.<\/p>\n It\u2019s also unclear how effective Rodgers can still be. Last year, he took a noticeable step back, but his arm still looked strong. Another year removed from tearing his Achilles might do him some good, too. Cousins suffered that same injury in 2023, but in 2024, he looked like he\u2019d taken an even bigger step back than Rodgers.<\/p>\n Rodgers is probably still a better player than Cousins. Also, as Carthon points out, trading for Cousins could be complicated. Last offseason, he signed a massive deal with the Atlanta Falcons. He still has three years left on that contract. Unless the Falcons are willing to eat a lot of that money, trading for Cousins probably doesn\u2019t make a lot of sense for the Steelers.<\/p>\n Compensation update: Falcons are giving QB Kirk Cousins a four-year, $180 million deal including $100 million guaranteed, per source. It\u2019s $45 million per average per year.<\/p>\n \u2014 Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 11, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n Just as well, it\u2019s uncertain what the Falcons\u2019 asking price for Cousins is. The veteran quarterback isn\u2019t worth high-value draft capital at this point in his career. However, maybe the Falcons would increase their asking price if<\/a> they\u2019re eating a lot of money on his deal.<\/p>\n In the 2026 draft, the Steelers are scheduled to have a surplus of draft capital. Therefore, they could probably sacrifice a late Day 2 or Day 3 pick for Cousins. Would they want to do that, though? It feels like the Steelers are trying to set themselves up to make a move to trade up for a quarterback in the first-round next year. The more draft capital they have, the easier that should be.<\/p>\n If they miss out on Rodgers, the Steelers might seriously consider trading for Cousins. However, they\u2019ve also stated that they\u2019re comfortable with Mason Rudolph starting. It might not inspire a ton of confidence in the fanbase, but Pittsburgh could opt to stick with Rudolph rather than trade for Cousins. In the long run, if they can\u2019t sign Rodgers, that might be the better move.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n