With three and a half weeks until the 2026 NFL Draft, the countdown until the event in Pittsburgh has entered the home stretch. The Pittsburgh Steelers, though, can also use the timeline as a countdown to the free agency decision from Aaron Rodgers.
That’s what Steelers president Art Rooney II declared while speaking to reporters at the NFL annual league meeting.
“I still expect that,” Rooney told The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac. “I expect we’ll get an answer before the draft.”
Rodgers spent the 2025 NFL season with the Steelers, leading the club to a 10-6 record and the AFC North title.
Rodgers and the team largely billed the 2025 campaign the quarterback’s last in the league. Early in the offseason, it appeared the Steelers would want a fresh start at quarterback.
But since hiring Mike McCarthy on January 24, the Steelers have publicly expressed wanting back Rodgers. While some insiders have reported a decision from the quarterback was coming soon, Rodgers has continued to have a slow free agency process.
“There’s been no deadline that’s been put in front of me. There’s no contract offer or anything. So, there’s nothing that I’m having to debate between,” Rodgers told ESPN’s Pat McAfee on March 4. “I’m a free agent and, again, I’m enjoying my time with my wife and enjoying this part of the offseason.
“I think there’s conversations to be had down the line. There hasn’t been any progressive conversations.”
Steelers to Get Aaron Rodgers Answer Before 2026 NFL Draft?
Overall, Rooney’s comments were positive. But with the Steelers and Rodgers, it’s becoming a boy who cried wolf situation.
Pittsburgh fans have now been hearing for weeks that the veteran quarterback is close to re-signing with the Steelers. Yet, nothing really new has developed.
The quarterback’s only public comments over the past month came on The Pat McAfee Show on March 4. During the interview, Rodgers seemed to do whatever he could to suggest his final free agency decision wasn’t coming soon.
By the 2026 NFL Draft, it will have been seven weeks since that interview. So, perhaps Rodgers will have a decision by then.
But it’s really anyone’s guess at this point.
Last offseason, Rodgers signed with the Steelers on June 5.
Money Influencing Rodgers Signing Decision With Steelers?
With an extended free agency period for Rodgers, pundits have the opportunity to speculate as to why the quarterback remains unsigned.
Former Steelers quarterback Charlie Batch theorized that money is playing a role.
“This is a guy who outplayed his contract,” said Batch, via Steelers Depot’s Troy Montgomery.
“This decision is coming down to money. The Steelers would like him to come back, yes, but it’s not going to be at the $13 million number. I’m sure Aaron, at some point, and I have not spoken to him, but I’m sure his representatives are wanting something closer to $30 [million].”
Few would disagree that Rodgers is worth $30 million in 2026. While he will turn 43 years old during the 2026 campaign, a $30 million salary this fall would only rank Rodgers at No. 19th among quarterbacks (based on average annual salary).
Last season, though, the Steelers signed Rodgers for a incentivized contract worth a maximum of $19.5 million. Before incentives, his contract was worth $13.65 million, which ranked 21st in the league.
Rodgers played well, but probably not well enough that the Steelers want him back for a significant pay increase. The quarterback hasn’t indicated this is the case, but maybe he does want one more big payday before retirement.
That could be the holdup in his contract negotiation. But so could many other things.
Rooney expects to have answers, though, before draft time.
Art Rooney II Provides Positive Update on Aaron Rodgers 2026 Steelers Decision