The Pittsburgh Steelers finally have a clear starting quarterback for the 2025 season in Aaron Rodgers. The four-time league MVP has been taking his time while making a decision on his future in the league, and it has felt like he was going to sign in Pittsburgh for quite some time. The veteran finally signed his deal this weekend, and it was reported on Thursday that he agreed to terms. The offseason saga is officially over and Pittsburgh can now focus on building out the rest of the roster.
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Aaron Rodgers warms up before the New York Jets' preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Rodgers is one of the best quarterbacks in the history of the NFL, but he is clearly on the last leg of his legendary career. His play has taken a step back, especially since suffering his Achilles injury in 2023, but it improved as the 2024 season went along. It never quite got back to where fans are used to seeing Rodgers perform, but optimism is still high for 2025.
Pittsburgh wide receiver Robert Woods went on The Jim Rome Show on Friday, and he was asked about the addition of Rodgers and what it means for the team, and his answer was extremely optimistic.
"We end up trading George Pickens," Woods said. "We end up still signing Aaron Rodgers. And you still look at this roster and you say, Super Bowl contender just because of Aaron Rodgers. You have high caliber players on the offensive side, defensive side. It's kind of hard to stop. When you get a quarterback like Aaron Rodgers, it extends the level of play. Of playoff contention, Super Bowl contention. Obviously, you feel like you're a competitive team, but I feel like [signing Rodgers] puts you over the hump."
Players in the league and on the Steelers still believe in Rodgers, which should say a lot for the fans. The players who are around quarterbacks everyday and know the game of football better than anyone still believe the veteran is at the top of the game when it comes to the quarterback position, and Woods believes the veteran can lead the Steelers to some postseason success.
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Former Green Bay Packers and New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers during a round of golf.
A statement like this especially means something coming from Woods, who has been in the league a long time. The wide receiver was drafted in 2013, and he won a Super Bowl with the Los Angeles Rams later in his career. He was hurt for the actual game, but he spent five seasons with the Rams and was certainly a major factor in winning the Lombardi Trophy. He knows what a winning culture looks like and what it takes from the quarterback position to get the job done. He believes the Steelers have that in Rodgers.
It won't be easy to be labeled as contenders for the Steelers. The AFC North is one of the toughest divisions in football. Pittsburgh will have to have a miraculous season in order to position themselves well enough to make a run in the postseason.
Steelers Need Robert Woods To Step Up In 2025
Woods is 33-years old, so it might be fair to say that the expectations for the veteran receiver aren't too high. However, Pittsburgh is going to need a good amount of production from the Super Bowl champion. The veteran receivers that have been brought in in recent years have not exactly panned out for the Steelers, and the organization likely wants to see Woods break that trend.
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Former Rams WR Robert Woods looks on before a home game.
Pittsburgh could still add another weapon to the offense, either through free agency or via trade. As of now, it seems like Woods is going to be trusted to play a major role in the passing game, but that all depends on any future additions and the development of second-year wide receiver, Roman Wilson.
What do you think about Woods' remarks? Do you agree that the Steelers are Let us know in the comments below!
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