As the Pittsburgh Steelers gear up for the 2025 NFL Draft, uncertainty continues to surround their quarterback position.
Despite ongoing rumors linking the team to four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers, a deal has yet to materialize.
However, a recent injury to New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr could throw a new wrinkle into the Steelers’ plans, according to Pittsburgh legend Ben Roethlisberger.
Carr, who may miss the entire 2025 season due to a shoulder injury, could prompt the Saints to seek a veteran quarterback like Rodgers.
Although it’s unclear whether New Orleans would pursue Rodgers, or if Rodgers would be interested in making the move, Roethlisberger believes Carr’s injury opens a potential door for the Saints – one that could impact the Steelers’ pursuit of the future Hall of Famer.
“My thought last week was that, ‘Is there a chance that there’s a team out there that we don’t know about yet that has a quarterback that’s maybe is injured?’ Big Ben said on his Footbahlin podcast.
“Then what news did we learn this week? We learned that Derek Carr has a shoulder injury and may miss the whole season… That’s a new door that’s opened up in the saga.”
With Rodgers’ future uncertain and teams slowly falling out of the running for his services, the Steelers have remained a prominent option.
Yet, the possibility of the Saints joining the competition for Rodgers adds another layer of complexity to the situation.
Roethlisberger highlighted the fluid nature of the quarterback market, with multiple factors still in play.
“Everyone was talking about Minnesota, that door we thought kind of closed,” Big Ben continued. “It’s Pittsburgh, it’s retirement, it’s maybe wait till the season gets going when you lose a potential quarterback on a team that is a contender.
“Then it’s just up to Aaron. Do they want Aaron? Would Aaron want to go there? Would they rather go to the draft? So there’s still a lot of questions, but it’s still interesting that that is there.”
Despite the uncertainty, one thing is clear: the Saints may now pose a serious challenge to the Steelers in the race to sign Rodgers.
While New Orleans is reportedly planning to add a quarterback in the upcoming draft, that doesn’t eliminate the possibility of them pursuing Rodgers, especially if they are unable to find a long-term answer in the draft.
If the Saints select a player like Shedeur Sanders in round one next Thursday, they may have to decide whether to immediately plug him into the starting role or let him sit behind a veteran like Rodgers for a year or two.
Such a decision could hinge on Rodgers’ willingness to play in New Orleans, but as Roethlisberger points out, this new development only adds to the growing list of factors that could shape the veteran quarterback’s next move.
With rumblings that Rodgers could be holding out for a chance to join either the Vikings or 49ers, the Steelers may no longer have a clear path to sign him, especially with the Saints now in the mix as well.
It should be noted that Pittsburgh’s fan base is relatively split on the idea of adding Rodgers. While he certainly has his supporters, there are some Steelers fans who hope the team passes on the polarizing quarterback.
What are your thoughts on Big Ben’s comments? … Do you think the Saints might swoop in and win over Rodgers???
