The Aaron Rodgers saga is showing no signs of slowing down.
The 41-year-old is learning that the NFL waits for no one as reports have emerged that the Pittsburgh Steelers are preparing a Plan B should the four-time MVP not sign with the team.
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ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler revealed on Monday that Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins is on the Steelers’ radar.
“So Rodgers Plan A, Kirk Cousins could be a viable Plan B,” Fowler said on SportsCenter.
“After making some calls today, I do believe he’s been on their radar. If something were to fall through with Rodgers, certainly they could reconvene, call Atlanta, and see if they could shake something out. But right now, Rodgers is their guy.”
While it’s clear that Rodgers is the Steelers ‘ number one option, NFL Hall of Famer turned popular media personality Shannon Sharpe was quick to criticize the idea of Cousins joining the Steelers.
“They [Falcons] gave him 50 million to sign last year and he got 37 guaranteed this year, so he got 100 million coming over the next three years, fully guaranteed,” Sharpe told his co-host Chad ‘Ochocinco’ Johnson on their Nightcap podcast.
“But let’s just say in the best case scenario he plays two years, but I said what if he only gives you one.”
Ochocinco interrupted Sharpe to say, “He gave us half of one [year],” seemingly criticizing Cousins after he was benched towards the end of last season.
As alluded to by Sharpe, one big stumbling block between Cousins’ arrival in Pittsburgh is his contract.
The 36-year-old has 37.5 million guaranteed left on his contract and last month, the Falcons wanted teams to take on at least $20 million if they were to sign him.
However, recent reports have suggested that the Falcons are willing to lower their asking price, making Cousins a more attractive asset.
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“As one source told me, if they were willing to take a small percentage, like let’s say $7 or $8 million of that money, a deal would be done by now,” Fowler added.
A cheaper Cousins would certainly entice the Steelers, should Rodgers not sign for them.
Cousins is a four-time Pro Bowler with 163 starts, and it was only in 2023 that he was enjoying his best season before an injury ended his season early.
Cousins enjoyed a mixed season in Atlanta last year, with his league-high 16 interceptions eventually leading to him getting benched.
Although he did say that playing through injuries was a significant factor in why he gave up so many interceptions.
Ultimately, it’s still more likely we will see Rodgers suit up in a Steelers uniform this year over Cousins.
The 41-year-old at a recent Q&A session at a Mike Stud concert in Austin, Texas, actually answered a question about joining the Steelers this year, although his answer was quite vague.
“You never know,” he said.
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It would be a devastating blow to the Steelers if they fail to sign Rodgers, given that it appeared they had built their draft strategy this year around him.
They didn’t select a high-profile quarterback last month and with only three quarterbacks on their roster right now – Mason Rudolph, Will Howard and Skylar Thompson – a Rodgers arrival would be a big boost.
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