Steelers Trade Pitch Sees Them Land Joe Flacco After Signing Aaron Rodgers

The Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback situation has been one of the biggest storylines of the offseason. After waiting months for a decision, the team finally signed Aaron Rodgers to a one-year, $13.65 million contract in free agency. However, could there still be moves for the team to make at this position, even though they presumably have their 2025 starter already in town?

Behind Rodgers is a rather uninspiring cast that features Mason Rudolph, Skylar Thompson, and rookie sixth-rounder Will Howard. Should Rodgers struggle or get injured, the Steelers would be in a tough spot at quarterback moving forward. With that in mind, let’s take a look at a trade pitch that would see Pittsburgh land Joe Flacco from the Cleveland Browns in a surprising AFC North deal.

Steelers’ Joe Flacco Trade Pitch

Steelers receive: Joe Flacco
Browns receive: 2026 sixth-round pick

At first glance, it may seem like the Steelers have no need for Flacco. Rodgers is starting, and if things go sideways, Rudolph can fill in for him (he did lead Pittsburgh to the playoffs in 2023, after all). But for a team with high hopes for the upcoming season like the Steelers, is that a contingency plan they feel comfortable with. The amount of time they waited on Rodgers indicates the answer is yes, but that doesn’t mean they are completely off the quarterback market.

If a deal were to fall into their lap like the one above, Pittsburgh’s front office would be hard-pressed to pass up on it. Again, a trade with the Browns may seem unlikely for them, but it’s not completely out of the picture. Cleveland’s quarterback depth chart is quite full, with Flacco competing against Kenny Pickett and a pair of rookies, Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders, for the starting job.

What the Browns end up doing at quarterback is still very much up in the air. Flacco seems to have the inside track to start under center in Week 1 given his experience with the team after he led them to the playoffs in 2023. But after he struggled in 2024 with the Indianapolis Colts, Cleveland could opt to roll with a younger option and see what they have in them, especially since they don’t exactly project to be a great team in 2025.

In that case, there would really be no need for Flacco, who they signed to a one-year, $4.25 million contract in free agency this offseason. That could lead them to deal him to a squad that may be looking for a stronger backup option, which is precisely what the Steelers are. It may not be the first trade everyone would think of, especially now that Rodgers is in Pittsburgh, but at this price, it could make sense for both sides.

Would Steelers, Browns Be Interested in This Joe Flacco Trade?

GettyCleveland Browns QB Joe Flacco.

Whether or not either team would be interested in this trade depends on a handful of factors. For the Browns, if they decide to embrace a youth movement at quarterback, then moving on from Flacco makes sense. Picking up a sixth-round pick in exchange for him isn’t necessarily great, but considering how he’s already 40 years old and just signed with the team in free agency, it’s a decent return.

A trade for Flacco would have certainly made more sense for the Steelers before they signed Rodgers, but if they want extra protection at this spot, a sixth-round pick is well worth spending to bring in some more help. Depending on how their options behind Rodgers look during training camp, a trade for Flacco could quickly become more feasible, especially at this price.