So, let's just get this out of the way, as we maybe don't address this as often as we should. We're fully aware here at Lombardi Ave that Aaron Rodgers hasn't been associated with the Green Bay Packers for more than three years now.
But given that he spent 18 years donning the famed Green & Gold, setting records and winning MVPs and leading the team to its most recent championship and such, we still feel obligated to Cheeseheads everywhere to keep you apprised on what's happening with him. And honestly, it's not just an obligation, as we want to do that for you.
But I'll tell you what. Even if we hadn't said a word about Rodgers for the past three years, we would now, as this ongoing saga between him and the Pittsburgh Steelers is just too entertaining.
For those who haven't been following, a little over a week ago, word came down that the Steelers had no idea if Rodgers was leaning toward returning for a second season or retiring, and that there was no indication that anything would change before the draft began this past Thursday.
Things took a twist on Friday night when Pittsburgh selected Penn State quarterback Drew Allar in Round 3 at No. 76 overall, and yet another new twist emerged on Tuesday, as the Steelers slapped the seldom-used unrestricted free agent tender on the 42-year-old.
The UFA tender gives the Steelers a bit of insurance on Aaron Rodgers
So, what the UFA tender does is it basically gives former Packers head coach Mike McCarthy and the Steelers some insurance that if Rodgers does opt to come back and play, it almost has to be for them, not that anyone else is really showing interest anyway.
However unlikely, if Rodgers does sign with another team, the UFA tender gives Pittsburgh the right to be considered for a compensatory draft pick next year. The reason this tender isn't used often is because there are rarely any free agents remaining this time of year capable of making an impact on the formula. But Rodgers, who actually played better than he was given credit for last year, can make that impact.
The tender does bump Rodgers' pay to $15 million if he ends up with Pittsburgh, but he could choose to play for less elsewhere. What this tender also does, though, is put him on a deadline going into the summer.
If Rodgers doesn't ink a deal with another team before July 22 or the first day of Pittsburgh's training camp, whichever is later, the Steelers will have exclusive negotiating rights from that point forward. From there, his only road to another team would be to accept the tender and get traded.
Furthermore, the tender gives him a much harder deadline of November 17, at which point he can't play for the Steelers or anyone else in 2026, absent a showing of extreme hardship. So, anyone thinking he could just sit around and jump in at the end of the year for a contender like Philip Rivers did this past season with the Indianapolis Colts, that can't be a thing.
There's no proof that Rodgers was planning to do something similar, but would the Steelers really have needed to make this move if they didn't think he was at least considering it? Again, it's not as if he really has another option at this point.
Stay tuned, Cheeseheads. We'll keep you posted on this entertaining saga as it progresses.
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