NFL Told Steelers Exactly Where Aaron Rodgers Stands In Its Eyes

The Pittsburgh Steelers have finally signed Aaron Rodgers, and now they hope that he can at least be a short-term answer to the team's quarterback issues. At this point, they are looking for anyone that can win a playoff game for them, as they have struggled to even come close to a victory when it matters most in almost a decade. However, there are some concerns about how far he has regressed at this stage of his career. He's still smart enough to read defenses, but Pittsburgh is hopeful he can still move a bit and sling it in the pocket. 

While making an appearance on ESPN's SportsCenter, insider Jeremy Fowler spoke about how some other NFL teams see Rodgers at this stage of his career.

"Team that I've talked to believes that Aaron Rodgers at this stage is a middle-of-the-pack quarterback," Fowler said. "He's probably ranked 15 to 17 among the top 32. He's not that top 10 guy anymore."

No team should every strive to have a mid-tier quarterback. The Steelers, however, may see that as an upgrade. Ever since 2019, the play of their passers has been inconsistent at best and downright abysmal at certain times. A game manager with elite field vision would make the team very comfortable, and that's why Head Coach Mike Tomlin was all in on signing the 41-year-old. 

It didn't matter who the offensive coordinator was; the Steelers have not been willing to diversify their playbook. The offense has been very predictable because of that, and it has led to them getting stymied at the end of seasons, including the postseason. The hope is that Rodgers' football IQ and talent give Tomlin and his staff the confidence they need to open up the playbook and be willing to do things that they typically try to avoid. 

While the league sees Rodgers as a perfectly average quarterback, the Steelers are desperately hoping that he can be more than that. They won't get that elusive playoff victory if the NFL is right in its assessment of the former MVP. They need him to be a top 10 player in the pocket if they want any chance of winning in January. If not, it will just be yet another season of "The Standard" that Steeler Nation is so frustrated with at this point.

Did Steelers Make An Upgrade Or Lateral Move?

The Steelers brought in Rodgers to replace Russell Wilson, whom the team wanted nothing to do with. However, Wilson has shown plenty of ability during his short stint with the Steelers. His one issue was his lack of mobility, which is also Rodgers' biggest concern at this point. Pittsburgh seemingly never wanted to bring Wilson back, but they were enamored with what an older passer could do in 2025 with Rodgers.

Wilson put up plenty of quality performances during his time in Pittsburgh. In fact, he had himself a career game in Week 13, when he completed 29/38 passes for 414 yards and three touchdowns in an absolute shootout against a division rival on the road. He even outdueled Rodgers in his first start of the season, which was in Week 7. At the end of the day, Wilson performed admirably.

His worst statistical game of the season was in Week 15, when he only threw for 128 yards. However, that was mostly because the Steelers only had two offensive possessions in the second half of that game, and one of them ended in a fumble because Najee Harris dropped a basic toss. Even in games like that where he didn't play great, it's hard to blame Wilson for that collapse. He was probably a mid-tier quarterback, which is exactly where the NFL has Rodgers pegged at.

What do you think about Rodgers being seen as a "middle-of-the-pack" quarterback by other NFL teams? Let us know in the comments or on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.

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