A surprising NFC team is among the favorites to sign free agent Aaron Rodgers as Steelers still wait for a reply

Only 11 days remain until the entire football world switches its focus to Green Bay for the upcoming NFL draft, and yet Aaron Rodgers is AWOL. The veteran quarterback, favorite to be the next starting quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers, continues to ghost on the AFC North team, and no one knows how long it is going to continue.

While the Steelers wait for an answer, a vacancy opened in the NFC South. The New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr is reportedly contemplating undergoing surgery to fix his aching shoulder.

Carr missed the second half of last season because of that shoulder. Surgery will keep him out for six to seven months. The estimated time of his return is around mid- to late November.

Rookie Spencer Rattler took over from Carr in 2024 but lost all six games he started in. The Saints need someone to hold down the fort.

Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio suggested that the Saints should sign free agent Aaron Rodgers.

With Saints quarterback Derek Carr reportedly suffering from a shoulder injury that could impact his availability for 2025, the Saints suddenly need a quarterback. And Aaron Rodgers is the best available free agent. Expect to see a report, sooner rather than later, that the Saints have reached out. Whether it goes anywhere remains to be seen. However, New Orleans becomes another option for Rodgers.

Mike Florio wrote

There are also reports that Rodgers is still hoping that the Minnesota Vikings would pick up the phone and give him a contract. If the Saints play their cards correctly, then landing the Super Bowl won’t be much of a hassle.

Derek Carr injury raises possibility of Aaron Rodgers to the Saints — while also underscoring the potential value to Rodgers of waiting to see if/when other injuries happen. https://t.co/QVVNHMHhc0

— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) April 11, 2025

The Saints must decide: Aaron Rodgers or Shedeur Sanders

The Saints can affect the Steelers’ plans in more ways than one. Pursuing Rodgers is undeniably a route Kellen Moore and Co. can explore, and the other option is pushing for Shedeur Sanders.

As per Mel Kiper Jr.’s latest mock draft, Sanders, the departing Colorado quarterback, is no longer a top 5 pick and risks sliding down the list and may even find himself as low as the 23rd position. Suddenly, several teams become legitimate contenders to select Sanders, including the Steelers.

However, the Steelers’ plans can easily be spoiled by the Saints. The NFC South club picks 9th overall, and bringing in someone with the Sanders bloodline to NOLA is too good of a project to pass up.

The only way the Steelers can counter the Saints’ challenge is by trading up the order.

Aaron Rodgers was already a key player in the NFL quarterback merry-go-round, but now he can make or break a few teams’ draft plans. The Steelers need to decide quickly because the sentiments in Pittsburgh will only get more serious the longer the 4x NFL MVP continues to stall.

Insider wants Steelers to go all in on Rodgers

NOLA is a good place for football. It’s one of the few places that have a dome, shielding players from snow, rain, or any sort of harsh weather conditions. Pittsburgh doesn’t have that luxury, but it comes down to how well the two teams are, and the Steelers beat the Saints in that department.

They boast the likes of George Pickens and Pat Freiermuth on the offense and recently signed star wideout DK Metcalf. Steelers correspondent for the Pat McAfee Show, Mark Kaboly, believes Aaron Rodgers is the final piece of the puzzle who can take the team to the next level.

I’ve seen enough from Aaron … he’s still the best short-term option for the Steelers.

Mark Kaboly said

“I’ve seen enough from Aaron … he’s still the best short-term option for the Steelers”

Mark Kaboly / Steelers Correspondent
For The @PatMcAfeeShow

PITTSBURGH — Todd Haley isn’t likely going to get a call from his former boss, Mike Tomlin, anytime soon asking for advice on what… pic.twitter.com/RxhFp5Shol

— Mark Kaboly (@MarkKaboly) April 11, 2025

Rodgers played every game for the Jets in 2024. Despite the 5-12 record, the veteran threw 368 completions for 3897 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 11 picks behind the 26th-best offensive line in the league. Many tend to forget Rodgers was in rehab for nearly a year before the 2024 season. The Steelers would luck out if they landed him, but Rodgers holds the final vote.

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