The first wave of the NFL\u2019s offseason is over, and the Pittsburgh Steelers went through it without an answer from Aaron Rodgers on his 2026 season. It\u2019s a similar situation to last year, when the Steelers had to wait until just before minicamp for the veteran quarterback to fill them in on his intentions.<\/p>\n
This time around, the conversations should be different. It\u2019s a new coaching staff in Pittsburgh, led by Mike McCarthy. But Rodgers now has a year of familiarity with the city and the organization under his belt.<\/p>\n
To the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette\u2019s Brian Batko, that familiarity could help Rodgers make a quicker decision. Batko thinks the decision could come before the NFL Draft.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we\u2019ll get a decision before then. Maybe it\u2019s just wishful thinking on my part. I\u2019ll go ahead and say yes, I don\u2019t feel great about it\u2026 The conversations at this point last year were probably more about selling Aaron on the Steelers, or quote unquote recruiting him,\u201d Batko said Friday on The North Shore Drive<\/a> podcast. \u201cI just would venture to guess that this year, the conversations are not like that\u2026 It\u2019s probably a lot more casual and easy going. But that doesn\u2019t make it any easier for the Steelers to operate without having a 100 percent, yes or no, in or out from him.\u201d<\/p>\n The draft will be held in Pittsburgh at the end of April, and the Steelers would sure like to know Aaron Rodgers\u2019 decision by then. Omar Khan mentioned earlier this offseason<\/a> that he thought Rodgers\u2019 process might be a quicker one this time around, although the veteran doesn\u2019t seem close to an answer at the moment.<\/p>\n Pittsburgh is now getting some heat from the media for waiting on Rodgers once again. And even if the Steelers don\u2019t plan on drafting a quarterback high anyway, making potentially 12 picks is probably easier when your starting quarterback is locked in.<\/p>\n