Could Aaron Rodgers want to play in California far more than he does with the Pittsburgh Steelers?

Fox Sports host and analyst Colin Cowherd is hearing that exact thing. He believes Rodgers has no intentions of signing with the Steelers unless it is his last option and will wait it out to see if any other spots open. Specifically, Cowherd says Rodgers, a four-time MVP, would like to play with the San Francisco 49ers.

“I told you. Aaron Rodgers doesn’t buy Pittsburgh, it’s fools gold,” Cowherd said on The Herd. “Defensive coach, two needy receivers, bad o-line, lost Najee Harris. And here we are. Aaron Rodgers is just waiting it out. I think it’s the right move. I believe he wants to go to San Francisco if the [Brock] Purdy contract doesn’t work, or Minnesota. I think he’s right to want that. I don’t think he should sign in Pittsburgh.”

The 49ers have Brock Purdy, who is still in contract negotiations with San Francisco. Purdy, a Pro Bowler in 2023, has become the long-term quarterback off the 49ers, but he wants a large contract.

San Francisco still has a lot of money to offload and move around, even into the future, to make the Purdy extension work for them long-term. Still, they are unlikely to move on from him, and signing Rodgers does not fit under that context either.

However, the Steelers are still waiting a month after Rodgers visited Pittsburgh.

Head coach Mike Tomlin said the team did not approach it from a ‘deadline-perspective’ at the NFL Owners Meetings two weeks ago. Meanwhile, team president Art Rooney II noted the team would ‘wait a little while longer,’ but they did not envision it taking that long.

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