There’s no doubt the Pittsburgh Steelers are going all-in this season, aiming to give Aaron Rodgers a chance to ride into retirement on a high note. The Steelers exercised patience with Rodgers throughout the offseason before finally striking a deal to bring him in. However, serious questions remain about the future of the quarterback position beyond this season.
“Aaron Rodgers signing with the Steelers is the worse case scenario. I think he’ll play good enough, & the team will be just good enough to miss out on a franchise guy next year! One of the greatest players of the era, & one of its greatest head coaches… just years too late,” ESPN’s Ryan Clark said.
The Steelers could very well look to swing a trade for Rodgers’ eventual successor as early as this season. One intriguing option could be Anthony Richardson.
“The Steelers may be all-in on a Super Bowl run this year following the addition of Aaron Rodgers, but they still need to keep an eye on the future with this likely to be the future Hall of Famer's final season. While Pittsburgh did utilize a Day 3 pick on Will Howard, the sixth-rounder is a long-term project with limited upside. The team could try to rehabilitate a signal-caller with a far higher ceiling by trading for Anthony Richardson. With Richardson losing his starting role to Daniel Jones after a training camp battle, the Colts might be willing to move on from the athletic passer after two troubling seasons,” Bleacher Report’s Alex Kay wrote.
Richardson’s talent and potential still draw attention. Former NFL quarterback Kurt Benkert recently evaluated his film and believes the young passer could benefit from a fresh start.
“This whole Anthony Richardson thing is why when I do my analysis on here I lean in on film. Film doesn’t lie and eventually things play out as they should. I hope he gets a fresh start somewhere else and can learn and reinvent himself as a QB. He has the talent - he wasn’t ready,” Kurt Benkert posted.
Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp
While a trade for Richardson wouldn’t solve the Steelers' long-term quarterback dilemma, it could provide a short-term bridge after Rodgers. At this point in his career, Richardson may not look like a clear-cut franchise QB, but he could be a viable placeholder until Pittsburgh can draft a top college quarterback. In the meantime, Richardson might be the best available option to follow in Rodgers' footsteps.