With Jaxson Dart out for the season, the Giants are suddenly in the business of hearing every quarterback name imaginable. Colin Kaepernick.
Tua Tagovailoa. Shedeur Sanders.
Now add Aaron Rodgers to the pile.
But this is one idea Joe Schoen should shut down immediately.
Ryan Pawloski of Still Curtain, FanSided’s Steelers site, floated the notion that if Pittsburgh’s season goes sideways, the Steelers could send Rodgers to East Rutherford. The logic was simple enough: Rodgers would give the Giants a veteran presence to help them survive John Harbaugh’s first season in charge, while Pittsburgh would move on and let the 42-year-old finish out what Rodgers has already said is his final season.
That sounds tidy on paper. It falls apart fast in reality.
If a team is going to spend draft capital on a 42-year-old quarterback, he needs to offer something close to a real path to a Super Bowl. Rodgers doesn’t. Not right now, not by a long shot.
The numbers are brutal. Among the 29 quarterbacks with at least 50 dropbacks this season, Rodgers ranks last in EPA per play, last in success rate, and 28th in yards per attempt. In plain English, he has been the worst starting quarterback in the NFL.
The style hasn’t helped either. Rodgers has leaned into static, easy-to-read formations and quick throws, and the Steelers have struggled to move the ball consistently because of it.
Pawloski noted that Pittsburgh would only think about moving Rodgers if the season completely unraveled. Even then, the Steelers have spent the last decade showing plenty of stubbornness about admitting defeat, so a trade still wouldn’t be a sure thing.
And even if the price were as light as a seventh-round pick or a late-round swap, the Giants still shouldn’t bite. If Pittsburgh is willing to unload Rodgers, that would only reinforce the concern: he hasn’t bounced back. Why would New York take on a 42-year-old quarterback who has already been one of the league’s worst?
In Other News...
Giants Quarterback Switch Just Got More Dangerous For Jameis Winston
Jameis Winston is set to make his first start for the Giants on Sunday, but the offense may have to brace for a bigger variable before kickoff. Left tackle Andrew Thomas is dealing with a groin injury, was limited on Wednesday and then sat out Thursdays practice, leaving his status very much in question as the week moves toward a final call after Fridays session and injury report.
For a quarterback stepping into a new starting role, that kind of uncertainty can quickly shape the game plan. If Thomas cannot go, the Giants may have to protect Winston differently and adjust how much they ask from the passing game, which makes the timing of his status just as important as the quarterback switch itself. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Are Sending A Concerning Early Message About Odell Beckham Jr
Odell Beckham Jr. has been on the Giants active roster to open the season, but his role has been far smaller than anyone expected. Through the first two games, he has played only 14 offensive snaps and has yet to see a target, while offensive coordinator Matt Nagy said Beckham is being brought along slowly as the team eases him into the offense.
For a player who still draws attention the moment he steps on the field, the lack of usage stands out even more because the Giants have leaned on other receivers in actual game action. Beckham is currently being treated more like a backup option than a featured part of the passing game, and until that changes, his presence feels more symbolic than central to what New York is trying to do on offense. [Read more 🡒]
Kayvon Thibodeaux Just Became A Giants Trade Name To Watch
The Giants season took another hit with Jaxson Darts knee injury ending his year, and the ripple effect has already reached beyond the quarterback room. With the playoffs looking more distant and the front office facing a tougher set of decisions, Kayvon Thibodeaux has emerged as a name worth monitoring as the roster conversation shifts from short-term survival to longer-term planning.
Thibodeaux has not made the kind of impact this season that would shut down speculation, and his name has floated into trade chatter before, including past interest from the New Orleans Saints. Even so, there is a difference between curiosity and actual movement, and there are still real questions about what kind of market the Giants could find if they decide to consider dealing a player with his profile. [Read more 🡒]