Aaron Rodgers Suggests The Steelers Need To Give A Massive Payday To Key Offensive Piece

The Pittsburgh Steelers wrapped up their 2025 season on Monday night as the team lost to the Houston Texans in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs. It was more of the same for the Steelers when it came to the postseason as the organization suffered another embarrassing loss in the first round, which makes it seven straight losses in the playoffs for the Steelers. It has been nearly a decade since the team last advanced in the tournament, and that is completely unacceptable for one of the most historic organizations in sports. 

Despite the unfortunate loss that ended Pittsburgh's 2025 campaign, the franchise has certainly found itself some young players that will be important to the organization for years to come. This comes in the trenches, especially along the offensive line. The right side was very solid throughout the season with three second-year players in Troy Fautanu, Mason McCormick, and Zach Frazier. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers praised those three throughout the season, and after the loss to Houston, he had some kind things to say about Frazier while speaking with the media.

"I mean, I don't think there's a better center in the league," Rodgers said. "I watched it every single week. We obviously got a good d-line, but 54 is as consistent as they come in the league. He's got a bright future. He is a phenomenal player. He's got a real steady way about him to go the whole season and not have any snap issues. I really didn't have to do a whole lot back there protection wise when I've done that most of my career. He is an exceptional player. If the team was smart, they'd slap on him pretty quickly because he is going to be 10 plus years in the league and one of the best to do it in my opinion."

Rodgers has been in the league for 21 seasons, and he has seen a ton of guys play center. Frazier is by far one of the best he has played with, and the quarterback believes that the young offensive lineman will be one of the best to ever do it at the center position when it is all said and done. That should give the fan base some optimism moving forward, especially with who else Frazier has on the right side of the offensive line.

Rodgers suggested that the organization should get a new deal ready for Frazier as soon as possible, but that is something that cannot happen until after the 2026 season when the center becomes eligible for an extension. It is hard to imagine what Frazier's extension could look like, but if he has another year like he did in 2025, there is no reason to think he won't become one of the highest-paid centers in the league. Frazier is a Pro Bowl and All-Pro caliber player, he just hasn't earned that league-wide respect quite yet.

Currently, the league's highest-paid center is Creed Humphrey of the Kansas City Chiefs. He makes an average of $18 million per year after signing a four-year, $72 million deal. There are only three centers in the NFL making more than $12.5 million per season as of right now, and Frazier will probably join that group.

Steelers' Rival Will Play Major Role When It Comes To Zach Frazier's Value

When a high-end player is eligible for an extension, it all comes down to where the market is as a whole. Essentially, whatever the top centers are making, Frazier will be in that realm, and with another good season, he can even surpass it. Currently a high-end center is making $15 to $18 million per season, but that could change with Tyler Linderbaum hitting the market. The Baltimore Ravens' center was drafted in 2022, and he has already been selected to two Pro Bowls. The organization declined his fifth-year option, so he is a pending free agent.

It is more than likely that Linderbaum will reset the center market, whether that is by earning a new deal in Baltimore, or signing a lucrative deal elsewhere in free agency. Pittsburgh will more than likely have to come close to matching that with Frazier during the 2027 offseason.

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