Steelers rumors: Is Aaron Rodgers dream officially dead?

Based off the latest Aaron Rodgers reports, Steelers fans are left guessing whether they have a chance at landing No. 12 from Green Bay.

Initially on Friday night, it appeared that a report from NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport was just another “Aaron Rodgers has yet to make up his mind on where to play in 2022” report. However, he did clarify it during the NFL Combine.

Rapoport said that Rodgers is “going back and forth” with his decision. Obviously the “back” was the Green Bay Packers. When Rich Eisen asked who the “forth” was, Rapoport said “it was always the Denver Broncos.”

With this latest update, Pittsburgh Steelers fans hoping that the team would trade for Rodgers thought they could put that dream to rest.

Shortly after Rapoport’s reveal, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk suggested Rodgers is down to four destinations — with Pittsburgh one of them.

What does latest Aaron Rodgers update mean for Steelers?

As Rapoport said, the link between Rodgers and the Broncos has gone on since the trade rumors began. That connection has only grown this offseason after Denver hired former Green Bay offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett as their new head coach.

Yes, the Steelers have shown to be an aggressive team at times (i.e. trading up for linebacker Devin Bush in 2019, acquiring defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick from the Miami Dolphins). Rapoport’s latest update on the Steelers mentions that retiring general manager Kevin Colbert is looking at all options to find Ben Roethlisberger’s replacement.

Yet, it sounds like Rodgers is choosing between playing for either the Packers or Broncos in 2022, for the most part. Unless the Steelers’ final offer is enough to trump more desperate teams, they’ll be on the outside looking in.

The Steelers have in-house options at quarterback in Mason Rudolph and Dwayne Haskins. But, they have already been linked to free agent and former Chicago Bears starter Mitchell Trubisky. Not to mention that there are still options available on the trade block, with Jimmy Garoppolo of the San Francisco 49ers being brought up as a possibility for Pittsburgh. Plus, they have the No. 20 pick in the NFL Draft, which they can use to take a top quarterback prospect.

Pittsburgh has to find their new starter for the first time in nearly 20 years, and from the sounds of it, it may or may not be Rodgers.