The Pittsburgh Steelers are heading into a pivotal offseason, and once again, all eyes are on the quarterback position. With their current situation in flux, the front office has some serious decisions to make - and not a whole lot of margin for error.
At the center of the conversation is the uncertainty surrounding Aaron Rodgers. Now 42, Rodgers faces the very real possibility of retirement.
If he chooses to hang it up, the Steelers will need to pivot - and fast. They're currently slotted at No. 21 in the upcoming NFL Draft, which likely puts them out of reach for the top-tier quarterback prospects.
That means a veteran addition might be the most realistic short-term solution.
Enter the free agent market.
If the Steelers go that route, one name that’s been floated - but should give Pittsburgh pause - is Malik Willis. The former Liberty standout and Titans draft pick has spent the last two seasons with the Green Bay Packers, but his NFL résumé is still largely unwritten.
Over four years in the league, Willis has made just three starts, throwing for 422 yards and three touchdowns in four appearances. That’s a small sample size for any team to bank on, especially one with playoff aspirations.
What’s more, Willis’s projected market value is raising eyebrows. According to Spotrac, he could command a deal in the neighborhood of two years, $71 million. That’s a steep price tag for a quarterback who hasn't had the chance - or perhaps the performance - to prove he can lead a franchise.
For Pittsburgh, that kind of financial commitment would be tough to justify. The Steelers are a team with multiple roster needs, and locking in that much cap space to a quarterback with limited experience could hamstring their flexibility elsewhere - whether that’s bolstering the offensive line, adding depth on defense, or investing in skill positions.
A more practical approach might be targeting a bridge quarterback like Marcus Mariota. He brings veteran experience, mobility, and a more manageable price tag - all while giving the Steelers a steady hand under center. Mariota may not be a long-term solution, but he can keep the offense afloat while the team evaluates its options in the draft.
And that’s the key here: Pittsburgh doesn’t need to force a splashy move. With a veteran like Mariota in place, they can take a measured approach in the draft.
Maybe a quarterback falls to them in the early rounds. Maybe they find a developmental prospect to groom behind a stopgap starter.
Either way, they preserve flexibility - both on the field and on the balance sheet.
In a league where quarterback decisions can define a franchise for years, the Steelers need to be smart, not splashy. Avoiding a high-risk, high-cost move for a quarterback like Willis could be the first step in building a more sustainable future under center.