Quarterback Aaron Rodgers, as rumor has it (or went), will appear on the draft stage in Pittsburgh to announce that he will return for another year.
Now, the official word (from NFL Network) is that the Steelers have not heard from Rodgers whether he plans to play in 2026, and the Steelers don’t expect any judgment Rodgers before the curtain rose in the first round.
That’s a dramatic change from what owner Art Rooney II said last month in Arizona: “I hope we get an answer before the draft”
Unless this is part of the setup, the Nuggets’ purpose is likely to avoid disappointment from Steelers fans who are expecting the draft to include a WWE-style sprint to the stage by Rodgers.
That said, this would be the perfect time for Rodgers to announce his intentions to return. Many Steelers fans remain curious about the sequel. What better way to get Rodgers on board than to lean into the natural excitement of hosting the draft for the first time?
Instead, the Steelers will continue to move forward with Will Howard, Mason Rudolph and whoever they add to the roster via the draft, undrafted free agency, veteran free agency and/or trade.
This should not have happened. The resolution should have happened much faster than 2025.
“I think neither side wants to continue this tug of war As it happened last year,” GM Umar Khan had said in February.
No one wanted it to drag on any longer. But it has to be pulled. And it will continue to drag on, largely because Aaron Rodgers is either naturally mysterious or he likes to be treated that way.
Or both.
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