The ink is dry, and the deal is completed. Aaron Rodgers is formally a Pittsburgh Steeler. After months of hinting and teasing, the four-time MVP would be the workforce’s beginning quarterback in 2025, however is that basically an improve?
The Steelers appear to definitely suppose so. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler broke down workforce and the league notion of the transfer in a latest episode of SportsCenter.
“The Steelers do imagine that they’re getting the most effective subject imaginative and prescient from the pocket they’ve had since Ben Roethlisberger,” mentioned Fowler. “They imagine he’s nonetheless obtained loads of arm energy and Jets’ coaches I’ve talked to suppose that he was so much higher than the stats confirmed final yr.”
Regardless of the Jets powerful season, Rodgers did put up at the very least enough stats final yr. He completed seventh in passing yards and eighth in passing touchdowns. Greater than that, he appeared like he improved because the season went on. A few of that may very well be the workforce’s addition of Davante Adams, however some is probably going from his Achilles tear restoration. That’s signal for a Steelers workforce who’s hoping he can construct on it and be even higher two years faraway from the damage.
Fowler additionally pointed on the market are some questions with Rodgers that coaches appear to have. Primarily, his declining mobility. Now in his early 40’s, he wasn’t the magician of previous final season with the Jets. Whereas it was clear his mobility improved down the stretch of the season, a lot of what made Rodgers so particular from the pocket is now not there.
It’s additionally honest to surprise about his slot in Arthur Smith’s offense. Rodgers, who notoriously likes to play his sure model of soccer, will attempt to regulate to Smith’s system. Fowler reported that Rodgers and Smith have been on the cellphone and communicated about completely different tweaks that may be made to the system, already placing these wheels in movement.
With a powerful arm and his aforementioned subject imaginative and prescient, groups nonetheless wrestle to rank him too low within the total hierarchy of NFL quarterbacks. Gone are the times of him being ranked throughout the top-10 of the league, however he nonetheless figures to me middle-of-the-pack. One thing the Steelers haven’t had since Roethlisberger hung up the cleats.
“Groups I’ve talked to imagine that Aaron Rogers, at this stage, is a middle-of-the-pack quarterback,” mentioned Fowler. “He’s most likely ranked 15 to 17 among the many high 32. He’s not that High-10 man anymore.”
The query then turns into – are the Steelers ok to win a Tremendous Bowl with a median quarterback? Wanting on the roster and looking out across the NFL on the groups, it appears unlikely. Nevertheless, it has been reported by Ian Rapoport that the Steelers are prone to try to take a swing at one other impression participant, inquiring about Atlanta Falcons’ tight finish Kyle Pitts.
Honestly, except that participant is High-5 within the league at a place of worth, it’s nonetheless onerous to see a path the place Pittsburgh tops their latest ceiling of 10 wins. However who is aware of? Possibly Rodgers can flip again the clock for one final season.
