Perhaps to the Steelers’ chagrin, Aaron Rodgers is certainly milking his first free-agency experience. A free agent for the first time in his career, he is taking the scenic route to his next destination. Having already visited with the Steelers last week, he is letting everyone wait on him, including the Giants.
According to Albert Breer, while the Steelers believe their meeting with Rodgers went very well, they expected him to take a similar visit with the New York Giants. Unless another team jumps back in the hunt, it appears to be down to these two. As of now, however, there are no reports of any plans for Rodgers to meet with New York.
“Steelers folks seemed to think coming out of their meeting that [Rodgers would] probably do a similar day with the Giants to get a vibe for their building, and what head coach Brian Daboll and GM Joe Schoen have built”, Breer wrote. “Unlike the Steelers, the Giants would look to Rodgers to do what the Jets envisioned him accomplishing and lift a growing, young core brimming with potential within a franchise that’s fallen on hard times”.
Of course, many Steelers fans would argue that they are a franchise that has fallen on hard times. But Steelers fans would also likely argue that Rodgers isn’t the one to rescue them. And even if they did sign him, he is obviously not a long-term solution. The same would be true for the Giants, but they are more desperate for relevance. Even if they have a more recent playoff victory—with Daniel Jones—than the Steelers do.
Breer did note that Aaron Rodgers reportedly will spend time at home, in the New York area, saying that a trip to the Giants would be easy to manage. But he also gave no indication that there are any plans for such a visit. If the Steelers sensed that Rodgers would visit the Giants, though, where did that come from?
It’s also worth noting that, unlike the Steelers, the Giants have a high draft pick if they miss out on Aaron Rodgers. The Steelers draft 21st overall, while the Giants have the third-overall pick. In theory, if necessary, they could finagle a trade up to the top selection. If the Steelers don’t land Rodgers, they’ll have a harder time landing a quality rookie.
Could Aaron Rodgers like what he hears from the Giants more than with the Steelers, though? Perhaps he meshes better with Brian Daboll and Mike Kafka than he does with Arthur Smith. And they do have Malik Nabers at wide receiver, even if the Steelers have talent, too.
