All signs are pointing to another NFL season for Aaron Rodgers in Pittsburgh.
The free agent quarterback is expected to visit with the Steelers on Friday and through the weekend in one of his steps toward playing with the team next season, Ian Rapoport reported Thursday.
No deal is done, however.
The Steelers gave Rodgers the unrestricted free agent tender in April — a “rare” move, according ESPN’s NFL insider Adam Schefter.
The Steelers have the right to match any offer he would sign with another team while giving Rodgers a 10 percent raise off of last year’s salary if he signs, which would pay him about $15 million this season.
Another wrinkle of the tender is Rodgers would only be able to sign with Pittsburgh once training camp begins in the middle of July.
Some speculated that the tender could annoy Rodgers, but Rapoport noted that it is considered a placeholder.
The 42-year-old will likely want to be paid more than the $15 million and will have to work out and finalize a deal with the Steelers.
The Steelers, who have been waiting for Rodgers to make a decision since losing in the wild-Card round to the Texans, have seemingly believed things would turn out this way all along.
They didn’t add a veteran quarterback during free agency.
While they did select Penn State’s Drew Allar in the third round of the NFL draft last month, he is not seen as ready for the pros just yet.
If Rodgers signs, then Mason Rudolph is likely to be the backup with second-year Will Howard and Allar battling it out for third-string.
Pittsburgh previously expected Rodgers to make a decision before the draft, but he is known to draw out these decisions about his future.
Last year, Rodgers threw 3,322 yards for 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions under Mike Tomlin, who stepped down after 19 seasons.
Tomlin recently predicted the four-time MVP would return to Pittsburgh.
Should he re-sign with Pittsburgh, Rodgers would be working withnew Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy after the duo won a Super Bowl together with the Packers.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
