The Pittsburgh Steelers aren’t giving Aaron Rodgers an ultimatum.
Head coach Mike Tomlin mentioned there may be “no drop-dead date” for the previous Jets quarterback to decide about signing with Pittsburgh as his extended free company continues.
“He came to visit last Friday and we had a really productive day,” Tomlin mentioned Monday on the NFL house owners conferences in Palm Seashore, Fla.
“He’s been in this thing a long time. I’ve been in this thing a long time. But there’s no substitute for intimacy and spending time together and getting to know one another in a non-competitive environment.”
Over the weekend, Rodgers threw to Steelers huge receiver D.Okay. Metcalf throughout a exercise at UCLA, based on NFL Community.
Rodgers, 41, is contemplating his future after the Jets launched him on March 12 following a disappointing two-year tenure.
The Steelers, who went 10-7 with Russell Wilson and Justin Fields at quarterback final season, look like Rodgers’ greatest choice to play for a contender. Fields signed with the Jets this offseason, whereas Wilson joined the Giants.
Mason Rudolph, a former third-round choose who spent his first 4 seasons with Pittsburgh, just lately re-signed with the Steelers on a two-year, $8 million contract after one yr in Tennessee.
Rudolph is at present atop the Steelers’ quarterback depth chart.
“I’m really comfortable with being unsettled this time of year,” Tomlin mentioned.
“It’s about talent acquisition. We’ve got two main means of acquiring talent: free agency and the draft. We multitask. We do both. … I’ve just learned over the years that this time of year, although day-to-day it can be somewhat uncomfortable, it is a process.”
The Steelers maintain the No. 21 general choose in a draft that’s thought of weak at quarterback.
Rodgers accomplished 63% of his passes for 3,897 yards, 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions final season, however the Jets went 5-12. That got here after Rodgers missed all however 4 offensive snaps in his first yr with the Jets as a result of a season-ending Achilles tear.
The Minnesota Vikings thought of Rodgers earlier than deciding to maneuver ahead with second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy, based on ESPN, whereas the Giants additionally confirmed curiosity earlier than signing Wilson and Jameis Winston.
Ought to he signal with the Steelers or anybody else, Rodgers can be returning for a twenty first NFL season. He spent his first 18 years with the Inexperienced Bay Packers, with whom he gained Tremendous Bowl XLV after the 2010 season.
Rudolph, 29, is 9-8-1 as a starter, although he led the Steelers to victories of their ultimate three video games of the 2023 season to assist them get to the playoffs.
“The way he smiled in the face of adversity and delivered for us was significant, but not that I was shocked by it or didn’t think it was within his framework or capabilities,” Tomlin mentioned Monday. “We’re excited about having him back.”
