Steelers' Depth Chart, NFL Salary Cap After Aaron Rodgers Contract, DK Metcalf Trade

Finally.

NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported Thursday that veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers plans to fly to Pittsburgh on Friday and sign a one-year deal expected to be worth around $20 million:

That's huge news for a Pittsburgh team that was otherwise looking at a quarterback competition between veterans Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson and rookie Will Howard. Instead, Rodgers will sit atop the depth chart, bringing a pedigree that the others don't possess.

Here's how Pittsburgh's depth chart should look with Rodgers now in the fold:

QB: Rodgers / Rudolph / Howard

RB: Kaleb Johnson / Jaylen Warren / Kenny Gainwell / Trey Sermon

LWR: D.K. Metcalf / Scotty Miller

RWR: Robert Woods / Roman Wilson

SWR: Calvin Austin III / Ben Skowronek

TE: Pat Freiermuth / Darnell Washington / JJ Galbreath

FB: Connor Heyward

LT: Broderick Jones / Dylan Cook

LG: Isaac Seumalo / Nick Broeker

C: Zach Frazier / Spencer Anderson

RG: Mason McCormick / Max Scharping

RT: Troy Fautanu / Calvin Anderson

The end of this offseason saga is likely a relief around Pittsburgh (and basically everywhere else among fans weary of incremental news updates regarding Rodgers). Had the veteran quarterback decided to retire, the Steelers would be in dire straits under center.

Granted, there's no guaranteeing that Rodgers continues to play at a high level. The 10-time Pro Bowler, four-time first-team All-Pro, four-time MVP had his struggles in 2024, going 5-12 as the starter while throwing for 3,897 yards, 28 touchdowns, 11 interceptions and compiling a 63.0 completion percentage and taking 40 sacks.

The numbers don't look terrible, but Rodgers looked plodding at times last season and didn't resemble the player who was once one of the elite quarterbacks in the sport. Perhaps a change of scenery will do him good.

The Steelers are banking on as much. The alternatives this offseason after Justin Fields and Russell Wilson departed in free agency—and the team didn't make a major splash at the position during the NFL draft—were fairly grim.