Aaron Rodgers’ stalled free agency is less about football ability and more about organizational alignment, timing, control, and risk. In conversations with league executives this offseason, a consistent theme has emerged: teams aren’t unwilling to sign Rodgers, but they’re unwilling to structure their offseason around him. His timeline is undefined. His recovery, while reportedly on track, remains unverified in football terms. And his availability, both physically and as a daily presence, has been a question since the later Green Bay years. And that conversation is still ongoing while his options are slimming.

The latest verdict from Rodgers’ possible preferred destination suggests he doesn’t hold the leverage anymore. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler has revealed something that could be music to the ears of the Steelers. “When I talked to people with the Vikings, this is all but dead for them, essentially. Maybe if he’s available later in the summer they would revisit. But that just seems unlikely at this point. It’s Steelers, retirement, or bust,” Fowler said on SportsCenter.

Well, the only way Rodgers could still follow the Brett Favre route is by playing the waiting game. If McCarthy doesn’t play well, then only the Vikings can put in an inquiry for Rodgers. However, the parameters of such a scenario playing out remain almost impossible. Why?

ESPN’s Kevin Seifert had the answer: “McCarthy would have to demonstrate overwhelming evidence this spring that he will not be ready to play this season.” Seifert suggests that either an injury or a complete reversal of skills from McCarthy remains the only scenario right now. So it’s completely up to Rodgers now. Whether he wants to put his NFL career in jeopardy by waiting for someone else’s downfall. Or should he make up his mind and sign with the Steelers?

With the NFL draft closing in on us, the Steelers aren’t going to wait forever. They will want a decision sooner or later. The Steelers have already given him the tour of their facilities. Also, probably made him familiar with their two-time Pro Bowl receiver DK Metcalf. And to add to their efforts, Tom Pelissero claims Rodgers’ contract parameters are also in place. All he needs to do is come back again and sign those papers.

Once he does, at least he won’t have to contend with retirement or bust, as Fowler predicted. Now, apart from those two ESPN journalists who sort of narrowed down Rodgers’ future. There’s another ESPN analyst who has painted somewhat of a contradictory approach to the Steelers’ QB plan in this year’s draft.

Is there any chance of Shedeur Sanders landing in Steel City?

See, the Steelers are positioned at No.21 in the upcoming NFL draft. And the only two QBs who are being touted as the top prospects are almost certain to be picked before the Steelers are on the clock. Still, ESPN’s Adam Schefter has floated a wild idea that may not come true but sounds interesting. He feels the Steelers are only willing to take Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, if not him, then no one. “I was of the mind that Pittsburgh was not taking a quarterback in Round 1. I think the only quarterback that they would consider, me reading between the lines, would be Shedeur,” Schefter claimed.

If it does happen, it’s going to be a huge surprise. Why? Because if the Steelers were interested in Sanders, why weren’t they present at his Pro Day? They only sent their area scout, Kelvin Fisher, as a sole representative. All 32 NFL teams’ top brass was in attendance at Boulder. However, the Steelers’ front office was nowhere to be seen. No Mike Tomlin or Omar Khan. Not only them. The Steelers didn’t even send a high-ranking executive, any coordinator, or a positional coach.

Their moving on this route only means the Steelers are probably vaguely interested in Sanders. Obviously, he could have been a huge addition to their QB room. Led college football in pass completion percentage (74). Sanders may not have all the traits to go No.1, but expecting him to fall in 21 is too much. “I can’t imagine he’s gonna slide to 21,” Schefter added. So, all signs point to Rodgers yet again. It’s either him or the Steelers might go into the 2025 season with a wobbly QB room. But one thing is for certain—this Aaron Rodgers saga is far from reaching its conclusion just yet.