Film Room: Will Aaron Rodgers be an upgrade for the Steelers at quarterback?

The news broke on Thursday that the long-anticipated Aaron Rodgers-to-the-Steelers marriage has been consummated. Rodgers signed a one-year deal with Pittsburgh, and will attend the team’s mandatory mini-camp next week.

At age 41, Rodgers is coming off of one of his worst professional seasons last year with the New York Jets. His numbers were decent — 3,996 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, 11 interceptions, a 63.0 completion percentage, and a 90.5 passer rating — but they palled in comparison to some of the absurd statistics he compiled in his prime. No one will argue Rodgers is anywhere near his prime these days, and his performance in New York last season was consistent with an aging quarterback playing for a bad football team. But Rodgers still does plenty of things well, too, and should provide Pittsburgh a much-needed upgrade at the quarterback position.

Watching film of Rodgers with the Jets provided me with a few thoughts on what Steelers fans should expect from him as their starting quarterback. Here’s a summary, with much of this demonstrated in the video at the bottom of the article.

ACCURACY/MOBILITY

Rodgers is still very accurate when he can set his feet, and his release remains quick. He has lost some of the zip on his fastball, but the accuracy and quick release tend to compensate. When he is set in the pocket, he can still carve up a defense in a way no Steelers quarterback has been able to do since Ben Roethlisberger.

Rodgers is not nearly the player he once was when off-platform, though, meaning throws he’s forced to make where his feet aren’t set, or his body is at an awkward angle. These types of throws were once the hallmarks of Rodgers’ game, but decreased mobility and arm strength have robbed him of that gift. As a result, pass protection for the Steelers will be huge. If they can keep Rodgers clean, he can still play the game at a high level. When his feet are cluttered and he’s under pressure, not so much.

Rodgers had the lowest QBR of any starting quarterback in the league last season against the blitz, meaning defenses had a lot of success when they made him uncomfortable. The line will have a huge impact on whether this remains true in Pittsburgh. Because of this, it’s a huge year for third-year left tackle Broderick Jones. Jones gave up more sacks than any tackle in the league last season, and this year he kicks over to the left to protect Rodgers’ blind side. The good news is this is Jones’s natural position. The bad news is if Jones doesn’t progress, Rodgers might get killed.

Also, it seems imperative now that the Steelers add another established receiver to their rotation. If the team is going to roll with Rodgers, they must provide him the weapons he needs to be successful. The Steelers cannot hope one of their unproven receivers steps up and claims the WR2 role. They should target one immediately and find a way to make a deal.

PROGRESSIONS

Rodgers still gets through his progressions quickly, which is a significant upgrade for the Steelers. Pittsburgh has not had a quarterback on the roster who could progress beyond a first read since Roethlisberger. This has limited the creativity of the passing game, which has been a steady diet of first-reads and checkdowns for several seasons now. With Rodgers, mid-level throws and in-breaking routes, which are often second or third reads, are back into play. That should help the passing game evolve.

One player who stands to benefit from this is Pat Freiermuth. Arthur Smith loves tight ends, and although Freiermuth had a decent season last year, catching 65 passes and seven touchdowns, it feels as though he remains underutilized in the offense. Much of that has been because Pittsburgh’s quarterbacks throughout his career have been unable to work through their progressions and deliver the ball into the middle of the field, where tight ends are often most effective. A strong connection between Rodgers and Freiermuth could really open up the passing game.

BIGGEST FLAWS

Rodgers sometimes forces throws into coverage he could once make, but no longer can. Call it hubris if you want, or simply the brain seeing something the body can’t manufacture. As a result, he’s thrown 23 interceptions in his last two full seasons as a starting quarterback. By contrast, he threw just 21 picks in five seasons between 2017-2021. Smith will want Rodgers to attack in the passing game, but he will have to find the sweet spot between allowing Rodgers to be Rodgers and protecting the football.

Also, Rodgers has lost his escape-ability. He can still move out of the pocket, but only by design. If he has to improvise to escape, it’s not good. When the pocket collapses around him, he often turtles up and takes sacks. The good news is that Rodgers’ mobility improved as last season progressed, hinting he had recovered from the Achilles injury that ended his 2023 season after just four plays. He is still mobile enough to execute the designed bootlegs and sprint-outs that Smith likes, which has the added benefit of getting Rodgers away from the rush. The bad news is that when Rodgers is in the pocket, the ball needs to come out on time. If not, he’s a sitting duck.

Overall, while his quarterback rating was lower than that of Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, he played the game at a higher level last season than both. He should give the Steelers their best quarterback play since Roethlisberger. Rodgers’ best might be mediocre, and I don’t know how far a mediocre Rodgers gets the Steelers. But for one season, he’s probably the team’s best option at the position.

For my video breakdown on Rodgers, click the player below. And for more of my work, follow me on X @KTSmithFFSN, and tune into my “Call Sheet Daily” podcast, which runs every Monday-Friday on most major platforms.

Here it is, Steelers’ fans: our first Aaron Rodgers film breakdown. Can he still play the QB position at a high level? Not as high as you may remember. But there are plenty of encouraging things from Rodgers on tape.

Take a look ⬇️@FFSNSteelCity @SteelCNetwork pic.twitter.com/786VC05FY6

— Kevin Smith (@KTSmithFFSN) June 6, 2025