Oh, make no mistake, I am definitely not pushing for another year of Rodgers. The "crafty vet" strategy is another guaranteed mediocre season with no chance in the playoffs.
The Steelers need to look beyond the tip of their nose for once. Deal the #21 to drop down and get any number of players who are basically #20 to #40 picks in terms of talent and are almost identical as to likely NFL stardom, use that to get a #2 pick in the 2027 draft, and plan on using the #1 and #3 picks and the 2028 #1 to move up to a legit spot to get a franchise QB. No way around it.
By trading down and getting another #2 pick in the 2027 draft, the team still has a lot of draft capital to help the new QB. The draft value chart shows the Steelers #21 is worth 800 points. If Seattle wants to move up, their #1 and 2027 #2 are worth around 800 points. That is just one example.
when you trade down in the first, you do not want to trade out of the first.
first round contracts are a year longer than second rounders and so on.
regarding Mac Jones - he may be better than Will Howard right now. In fact, its not arguable. He is. He's seen playing time and has thrown passes in a game. Howard, as much as I'm hoping for the guy, simply has not.
ideally for a trade of Jones, there's someone at 21 the 49ers decide they cannot live without. Jones has a pretty easily movable contract and the 49ers have $30mil in cap space per overthecap.
They have these WRs:
Jordan Watkins (24), Malik Turner (30), Demarcus Robinson (31), Ricky Pearsall (25 and a gunshot hole), Christian Kirk (29), Mike Evans (32), Jacob Cowing (25), Junior Bergen (23) and Brandon Aiyuk (28 and like to be cut/released).
It's not far fetched to consider they may want to move up to snag KC Concepcion, Denzell Boston or Chris Bell.
The problem is that SF doesnt have a lot of draft capital to play with. 1.27, 2.58, 4.127, 4.133, 4.138, 4.139
Whereas we're at 1.21, 2.53, 3.76, 3.85, 3.99, 4.121, 4.135, 5.161, 6.216, 7. 224, 7.230, 7.237
I'd swap first round picks to get Mac Jones and SF throw in a pick, but SF may want to have a pick. At which I'd offer 5.161 and go as high as 4.121. Our first five picks should be held at a premium.