For many weeks, fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers have wondered what free agent quarterback Aaron Rodgers is waiting for when it comes to his decision about whether or not to join the Steelers. One veteran reporter seems to have an answer.

Mike Silver of The Athletic spoke to wide receiver Davante Adams, a longtime friend of Rodgers, this week. Adams told Silver that Rodgers is looking for a team to truly make him feel wanted, after a disastrous ending to his tenure with the New York Jets.

During his appearance on the Pat McAfee Show last week, Rodgers ripped the Jets and new head coach Aaron Glenn for the way they went about his release earlier this offseason.

Silver said he believes that experience is coloring Rodgers’ present decision, and that he’s looking for a team to truly show committed they are to him.

“I think Aaron wants someone to roll out the red carpet for him,” Silver said during an episode of the Scoop City podcast with Dianna Russini and Chase Daniel. “That is what he is looking for. I’m not sure if he would consider the Steelers doing that right now. I’m not positive how Aaron perceives that or how the Steelers perceive that. The Vikings clearly aren’t.”

Rodgers visited the Steelers in March, but it’s not clear if they’ve made the kind of commitment that Rodgers is looking for. The Steelers are still seeking a quarterback in the 2025 NFL Draft, perhaps even with their first-round pick, and while Rodgers said the results of the draft won’t have an impact on his decision, the Steelers’ overall lack of commitment to him as the team’s starting quarterback could have him turned off of the idea of coming to Pittsburgh, especially after the way he feels he was treated in New York.

“It felt to me, Aaron, based on what Davante said, would love to be swept off his feet,” Silver said. “He’s a four-time MVP, he’s one of the greatest ever to spin it. I would understand why Aaron would want to feel that level of intensity before he jumps in.”

Of course, if the Steelers aren’t reaching that level with Rodgers, it’s very highly unlikely anyone else will. The other 31 teams all have starting quarterbacks in place. It’s possible that Rodgers could just decide to hang up his cleats instead of playing for a team that he is unsure if they’re all in on him.

“He seems content to wait. I believe that he just wants to feel that vibe,” Silver said. “The Jets are a little different and it didn’t go amazing and it ended poorly.”

If Rodgers decides not to play now, that wouldn’t preclude the idea of him coming in to rescue another team, if a contender suffers an injury at quarterback. A team desperate enough would certainly do everything possible to land Rodgers at that juncture.

Adams also told Silver that he believes Rodgers can still play at a “very high level,” citing his injured leg bothering him at the start of the 2024 season.

Mentioned In This Article: Aaron Rodgers Davante Adams Jets New York Jets Pittsburgh Steelers Steelers