Would You Welcome Back Rodgers Again?

[KentuckySteeler]

He will go to Minny IMO. He’s having fun at the end of his career and playing for a different team again will be fun for him.

 

[Slaine]

If you look at the "Rodgers" offense across the last 3-4 years then it's been much the same at the Jets as it was here. The way that he wants to play dictates and limits the options for the OC. I think that Smith had his hands tied by how Rodgers wants to play. And how he wants to play is for him to not get hit.

If you just look statistically Rodgers was the 14th best QB last year in the NFL based on QB rate, 15th by passing yards, 13th by TDs. Sounds great doesn't it? Why wouldn't you want him back for $10M next year, pair it with a nuclear defence and win it the way that the Seahawks won it?

By QBR he was 23rd in the NFL. By EPA he was 22nd.

He is a competent, fairly accurate QB. But his advanced stats have him next to Dillon Gabriel and Brady Cook in a lot of metrics. He is also immobile and will not change how he wants to play. IF that was good enough to win then great but it's incredibly limiting.

• Last years Steelers had the lowest air yards per completion of the advanced stats era - in the last 15+ years.
• Last years Steelers were 27th in explosive play rate.

So because we had no real downfield threat to our offense we were entirely reliant on YAC plays. That made us almost entirely one dimensional and its a tribute to the players and the defense that we won as many games as we did playing like this.

I don't see the point in bringing him back unless he is willing to play differently. And I have no expectation at all that he is prepared to do that.

 

[Avoid_Lloyd]

If you look at the "Rodgers" offense across the last 3-4 years then it's been much the same at the Jets as it was here. The way that he wants to play dictates and limits the options for the OC. I think that Smith had his hands tied by how Rodgers wants to play. And how he wants to play is for him to not get hit.

If you just look statistically Rodgers was the 14th best QB last year in the NFL based on QB rate, 15th by passing yards, 13th by TDs. Sounds great doesn't it? Why wouldn't you want him back for $10M next year, pair it with a nuclear defence and win it the way that the Seahawks won it?

By QBR he was 23rd in the NFL. By EPA he was 22nd.

He is a competent, fairly accurate QB. But his advanced stats have him next to Dillon Gabriel and Brady Cook in a lot of metrics. He is also immobile and will not change how he wants to play. IF that was good enough to win then great but it's incredibly limiting.

• Last years Steelers had the lowest air yards per completion of the advanced stats era - in the last 15+ years.
• Last years Steelers were 27th in explosive play rate.

So because we had no real downfield threat to our offense we were entirely reliant on YAC plays. That made us almost entirely one dimensional and its a tribute to the players and the defense that we won as many games as we did playing like this.

I don't see the point in bringing him back unless he is willing to play differently. And I have no expectation at all that he is prepared to do that.

I think Tomlin refusing to use the middle of the field until down by double digits limited Smith way more than Rodgers not wanting to get hit.

I can’t believe what they ran last year is what Rodgers wants.

You’re right a precise route runner/possession receiver to compliment DK and his deep threat game is essential for the offseason. They need a real slot WR too

 

[Slaine]

The decisions around the style of offense they want to run and how they add to the personnel based on that will be fascinating.

If Rodgers is back then maybe adding someone like Michael Wilson from the Cards, Romeo Doubs who will probably be a FA, Christian Kirk or Calvin Ridley might make sense depending on whether they feel they need an additional boundary reciever or a slot guy.

It's interesting that in McCarthy's press conference he mentioned his leanings towards a West Coast style offense and the need for a mobile QB to run that. He did walk back from that slightly so we'll see whether that means Rodgers is in the frame or not.

 

[Coryea]

We absolutely know Rodgers isn't the future here, so bringing him back is just idiotic.

 

[deljzc]

I think people are way too attached to the name rather than what Rodgers would represent for the 2026 season.

The real question to ask is whether this off-season, there is a way for the Steelers to fix the QB position long term. Those that believe there is, either by draft, trade, free agency or some magic by McCarthy with the guys on the roster, obviously do not want Rodgers back. He's a roadblock to a "better choice" they believe exists.

If you sort of think there really isn't a chance in hell the Steelers fix their QB position long term this off-season, because the pickings or our draft position are just too poor, then Rodgers isn't a bad option because he is, by definition, a very short-term fix (i.e. only 2026) with almost no long term committment (either in cap resources or draft selections).

The name really doens't matter. His performance really doesn't matter. It's all about your outlook on this off-season in general and what you expect or think can be accomplished.

I honestly see both sides of it. There might be some answer out there, even if I don't think there is. I could definitely be wrong. Maybe trading for someone like Kyler Murrey turns out to be some stroke of genius and he turns into our franchise QB savior for the next 4-5 seasons (he will turn 29 this year). Who knows.

I just worry we try that, give up reasources, and it fails, we likely waste 2026-2028 rather than just another season of Rodgers (2026).

That's why we all site around our keyboards debating stuff like this.

 

[Coryea]

I think people are way too attached to the name rather than what Rodgers would represent for the 2026 season.

The real question to ask is whether this off-season, there is a way for the Steelers to fix the QB position long term. Those that believe there is, either by draft, trade, free agency or some magic by McCarthy with the guys on the roster, obviously do not want Rodgers back. He's a roadblock to a "better choice" they believe exists.

If you sort of think there really isn't a chance in hell the Steelers fix their QB position long term this off-season, because the pickings or our draft position are just too poor, then Rodgers isn't a bad option because he is, by definition, a very short-term fix (i.e. only 2026) with almost no long term committment (either in cap resources or draft selections).

The name really doens't matter. His performance really doesn't matter. It's all about your outlook on this off-season in general and what you expect or think can be accomplished.

I honestly see both sides of it. There might be some answer out there, even if I don't think there is. I could definitely be wrong. Maybe trading for someone like Kyler Murrey turns out to be some stroke of genius and he turns into our franchise QB savior for the next 4-5 seasons (he will turn 29 this year). Who knows.

I just worry we try that, give up reasources, and it fails, we likely waste 2026-2028 rather than just another season of Rodgers (2026).

That's why we all site around our keyboards debating stuff like this.

Good post. The way I look at it, the QB position is so important, that I'm throwing enough at the wall until something sticks. Howard, possibly Willis, etc. (Murray doesn't care enough about football for me), a draft pick and see if you have anything, (I don't think any of those guys are going to be the next guy but I still try) if not we probably get to pick in the top half of round 1. Then we actually get one of the better prospects.
The way I look at Rodgers is he's good enough to have us picking in the 20's, so 2026 is a waste, we find nothing out about any QB's, and we're in a worst spot than we'd be if we tried other QB's, because we're drafting at 21 instead of 12.

 

[NoKap#7]

Like a lot of people i was opposed to it last season because I didnt see the Steelers as a match due to his age and due to their being too many holes on the roster to be a championship team. A QB his age should be seeking out a team that has a legitimate chance at SB aspirations and a team like the Steelers needs to be figuring out who their next QB needs to be.

There was essentially nothing gained from having him on the team last season and who knows if will Howard's development has been helped any or slowed by his presence.

 

[SteelerFan448]

Good post. The way I look at it, the QB position is so important, that I'm throwing enough at the wall until something sticks. Howard, possibly Willis, etc. (Murray doesn't care enough about football for me), a draft pick and see if you have anything, (I don't think any of those guys are going to be the next guy but I still try) if not we probably get to pick in the top half of round 1. Then we actually get one of the better prospects.
The way I look at Rodgers is he's good enough to have us picking in the 20's, so 2026 is a waste, we find nothing out about any QB's, and we're in a worst spot than we'd be if we tried other QB's, because we're drafting at 21 instead of 12.

I want to see the Steelers get Willis or Jones and I don't care if it fails. The upside is higher than singing Rodgers as maybe you catch lighting in a bottle and get a QB capable of producing like Darnold or Hurts. Since 2010, Brady and Mahomes are on a different level and have skewed the QB Super Bowl results winning 7 of the past 16. That leaves 2 of 9 won by HOF QBs. Factor in the losing QBs as well and there's an interesting breakdown. Factor in all the highly-paid QBs that missed the playoffs, is there a shift toward above average QBs surrounded with great rosters being the key to success?

Future Hall of Famers:
-Aaron Rodgers
-Tom Brady 4x
-Patrick Mahomes 3x
-Peyton Manning
----------
-Ben Roethlisberger
-Tom Brady x2
-Peyton Manning
-Patrick Mahomes x2

Hall of Very Good:
-Eli Manning x2
-Russell Wilson
-Matthew Stafford (I know some think higher of Stafford)
----------
-Russell Wilson
-Matt Ryan
-Joe Burrow

Solid-Good:
-Joe Flacco
-Jalen Hurts
-Sam Darnold
----------
-Cam Newton
-Jared Goff
-Jalen Hurts
-Brock Purdy
-Drake Maye

Average
-Nick Foles
----------
-Colin Kaepernick
-Jimmy G.

 

[Drink IRON City]

internally for the Steelers, they are saying they need a decision from Rodgers before the Tampering period begins.

That date is creeping right up on us and that is a way better time frame than the previous coaching.

There is no doubt, they take Aaa-ron, if his answer is yes.



Salute the nation