Getty
Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers.
As the Pittsburgh Steelers await word from Aaron Rodgers on whether he’ll return for another season, the quarterback position remains the franchise’s biggest question mark.
Before Rodgers’ lone season under center last year, the Steelers hadn’t had a truly reliable quarterback since Ben Roethlisberger.
Many believe Rodgers will strongly consider another season, especially with the opportunity to reunite with former Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy, who now takes over in Pittsburgh after Mike Tomlin’s 19-season run.
But nothing is guaranteed. And if Rodgers doesn’t return, the current in-house options — Mason Rudolph, Will Howard and Skylar Thompson — may be serviceable, but likely not enough to push the Steelers back into serious playoff contention.
That reality means Pittsburgh could explore free agency or the trade market — including a bold trade scenario proposed by Bleacher Report’s Brent Sobleski.
Steelers Linked to Falcons QB in Trade Scenario
Sobleski floated the idea of the Steelers making a trade for Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins — a move that would immediately reshape not only Pittsburgh’s draft strategy but others as well.
“In Pittsburgh, new head coach Mike McCarthy hired Brian Angelichio as his offensive coordinator. Angelichio served as Cousins’ passing game coordinator during the 37-year-old veteran’s last two seasons with the Minnesota Vikings,” Sobleski wrote.
“If the Falcons are receptive and the Steelers pull the trigger on a trade — even with the possibility of a deal not coming together until after the draft — Pittsburgh would likely pass on quarterback altogether, with a second option not being selected in this year’s first round. This approach can create a cascading effect throughout the league with teams waiting and then taking a quarterback prospect during Day 2 of the draft.”
A Cousins trade would undoubtedly create ripple effects across the 2026 NFL Draft. Teams monitoring Pittsburgh’s quarterback situation could adjust their own draft boards accordingly if the Steelers secure a veteran before April.
Steelers May Not Need to Trade For Kirk Cousins at All
Cousins is expected to draw interest once the offseason officially opens. However, there’s a legitimate question about whether Pittsburgh would even need to trade for him — or simply wait.
Thanks to Cousins and the Falcons agreeing to a modified contract, Atlanta appears positioned to move on.
“Cousins and Atlanta mutually agreed to modify the remaining two years of the 37-year-old’s deal, with March 13 looming as a key date,” The Athletic’s Dianna Russini wrote. “If Cousins is on the roster — and on his current contract — the Falcons will owe him $67.9 million in 2027. The restructured deal lowered Cousins’ 2026 base salary and gave Atlanta more immediate financial wiggle room.”
If Pittsburgh were to pursue a trade before Cousins is released, Atlanta would almost certainly want the Steelers to absorb a portion of the remaining contract. Otherwise, there’s little incentive for the Falcons to negotiate when they could simply release him and spread the financial impact over time.
For the Steelers, patience may be the smarter play. Waiting for Cousins to hit free agency would eliminate the need to surrender draft capital and allow Pittsburgh to negotiate a more team-friendly deal. Other suitors would likely emerge, but that’s preferable to committing both picks and significant money in a trade.
If Rodgers doesn’t return, Pittsburgh’s quarterback search could quickly become the defining storyline of its offseason — and Cousins may find himself squarely in the middle of it.
Shane Shoemaker Shane Shoemaker is a sports journalist covering college football and the NFL for Heavy.com. His work has also appeared in The Sporting News, Athlon Sports, USA TODAY, and ClutchPoints, along with high school sports coverage for the Marion Tribune. More about Shane Shoemaker
More Heavy on Steelers
Loading more stories