The Pittsburgh Steelers are in the middle of a dramatic saga with quarterback Aaron Rodgers once again, and much of the fan base is fed up with the entire thing. It is at the point where a lot of fans would rather see a young quarterback like Drew Allar or Will Howard get a chance to start. There is no doubt that Rodgers is the best option for the franchise at this point in time, but the organization waiting for a player like this is unheard of. He is still technically a free agent, and he could sign wherever he would like to, even if Pittsburgh seems like the obvious choice.
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Steelers' Aaron Rodgers looks to pass during a win over the New York Jets during the 2025 season.
Pittsburgh did something that made fans a little bit suspicious as the organization placed the right-of-first-refusal tender on Rodgers about a week ago. This is basically just an insurance policy for the franchise. The tender makes it so that once training camp begins, Rodgers would only be able to sign with the Steelers. If he were to sign with another team before then, Pittsburgh would be in line to receive a compensatory draft pick. One team that has been brought up in relation to Rodgers is the Arizona Cardinals, and one of their players even tried to recruit Rodgers recently.
@AaronRodgers12 Come on we waiting on you 👀😁
— Kendrick Bourne Poly (@KendrickBourne_) May 5, 2026
Kendrick Bourne is a newly signed wide receiver for the Cardinals. He had a pretty good year with the San Francisco 49ers in 2025 as he stepped up while the offense was dealing with a ton of injuries. He has also spent some significant time with the New England Patriots, and he was even considered a trade candidate for the Steelers just a couple of years ago.
AP Photo / Joshua Bessex
Former Patriots wide receiver Kendrick Bourne during a road game against the Buffalo Bills in 2024.
Bourne joins a pretty talented group of weapons on the offensive side of the ball in Arizona, and the group should be pretty enticing for a player like Rodgers. The backfield is great with Tyler Allgeier and fourth-overall pick Jeremiyah Love. James Conner could also be there, but he is coming off of a serious injury and it seems like his time with the franchise could be coming to a close. The Cardinals also have Trey McBride, who might just be the best tight end in the NFL.
The wide receivers on this team are interesting as well. Marvin Harrison Jr. was seen as a premier prospect who hasn't quite reached his full potential yet. Michael Wilson has been underrated for years, but finally made some noise in the second half of the 2025 season, and Bourne is a reliable third option.
Not to mention, Rodgers already has ties in the building. Nathaniel Hackett was Rodgers' coordinator with both the Green Bay Packers and the New York Jets, and he is now the offensive coordinator for the Cardinals. Isaac Seumalo also signed with the Cardinals during free agency, and the offensive line as a whole has been improving. Bourne and Rodgers are also both from Oregon, and the two have been seen in videos working out together in the past.
Steelers Should View The Cardinals As A Serious Threat
Arizona might sound like a far-fetched landing spot for Rodgers, but it makes complete sense. He has always wanted to be on the West Coast, and a move like this would put him closer to that. The talent level on the offense is enticing, and there is familiarity with the coaching staff. Not to mention, the starting quarterback job is relatively wide open.
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Former Miami Hurricanes QB Carson Beck looks on during the National Championship game.
Carson Beck was drafted by Arizona at the top of the third round, but Arizona would probably gladly sit him behind Rodgers for a season. Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew are also in the room, but either one of those players is cuttable in order to make room for Rodgers.
What do you think about Bourne trying to recruit Rodgers? Let me know on X, @brogannoey!
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