Steelers Predicted to Trade for $180 Million QB if Rodgers Doesn't Sign After NFL Draft

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been exceedingly patient with quarterback Aaron Rodgers, but the time to ruminate on decisions under center is nearly through. 

Rodgers is a four-time NFL MVP and former Super Bowl champion, but he is now clearly a bridge quarterback standing on the precipice of his age-42 season. 

As such, Mina Kimes of ESPN spoke with USA Today Sports on Thursday, April 17, and said that Rodgers' decision, or lack thereof, to join the Steelers shouldn't ultimately change Pittsburgh's plans to draft (or not draft) a quarterback next week. The team selects No. 21 overall in the first round, and different mocks have Colorado's Shedeur Sanders and/or Jaxson Dart of Ole Miss available in that spot. 

With only Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson currently on the roster, the Steelers are poised to select a rookie quarterback somewhere in the draft. However, the team is most likely going to need a viable veteran starter in 2025 regardless, and neither Rudolph or Thompson has proven himself that despite multiple chances respectively to do so. 

Considering all of these factors, Moe Moton of Bleacher Report predicted on Thursday that the Steelers will trade for Atlanta Falcons QB Kirk Cousins if the draft comes and goes and Rodgers remains non-committal to a short-term future in Pittsburgh. 

"Atlanta will move forward with second-year quarterback Michael Penix Jr., so Cousins, who has been a full-time starter since 2015, probably wants an opportunity to lead an offense elsewhere," Moton wrote. "If the Cleveland Browns don't draft a quarterback early and Aaron Rodgers chooses not to sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers, both AFC North teams could make offers to the Falcons for Cousins after the draft."

Cleveland recently traded with the Philadelphia Eagles for Kenny Pickett and then signed former starter Joe Flacco to a one-year deal via free agency. Deshaun Watson, who continues to rehabilitate his twice-torn Achilles tendon, has two years remaining on his five-year, fully-guaranteed contract. 

The Browns also own the No. 2 pick in the first round as well was the first selection of the second round (No. 33 overall) and figure to select a rookie quarterback of their own somewhere in that range. Whomever that player is will make four QBs on Cleveland's roster heading into 2025, which probably renders the Browns a far less likely suitor for Cousins than the Steelers -- particularly given Cousins' contract and trade costs and Cleveland's well-known salary cap issues. 

Cousins is entering the second season of his four-year, $180 million contract in 2025.