With the Pittsburgh Steelers still awaiting a decision from free agent quarterback Aaron Rodgers, analysts are urging the team to make a proactive move for another QB option — regardless of Rodgers’ choice to play or retire.
Rodgers, who turns 42 years old in December, remains a year-to-year option and has been linked to the Steelers throughout the offseason. While the four-time MVP could provide short-term stability under center, his long-term future in Pittsburgh is far from certain, especially with only a one-year offer reportedly on the table.
NFL Analyst Urges Steelers To Trade For Will Levis As Aaron Rodgers Saga Drags On
With the Rodgers saga dragging on, Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton argues that Pittsburgh should offer a fourth-round pick to the Tennessee Titans for Will Levis, who has two years left on his rookie deal. Moton argues that Levis could be an interesting option regardless of Rodgers’ decision.
“If the Steelers finish the 2025 season with a mediocre record and Rodgers only sticks around for one year, they would at least have an experienced young starter in Levis, whom they can develop for the long term,” Moton wrote. “In seven seasons, Mason Rudolph has been a game manager. At 25, Levis, with his big arm and mobility, has far more upside.”
Levis, 25, was selected by the Titans with the 33rd overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. He has started 21 games across two seasons, completing 61% of his passes for 3,899 yards, 21 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions.
Since Ben Roethlisberger retired, the Steelers have had five different quarterbacks log three or more starts. Rudolph is currently listed as the team’s QB1, but Pittsburgh fans are continuing to wait for Rodgers’ decision. Pittsburgh drafted Will Howard in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, but he’s more of a flier than a dependable solution.
Recently, Steelers linebacker Alex Highsmith commented on the team’s pursuit of Rodgers.
“I think we try to put our best foot forward every day with who’s in the building right now,” Highsmith said. “No matter who’s back there for us, whether it’s him [Rudolph] or if Rodgers is going to come, I’m just excited. Whoever is back there, we are going to have their backs and rally behind them. I’m just excited for whoever it’s going to be.
“I know that if he does sign, we’re definitely going to be really excited to have him,” he added. “We know who he is, he’s a Hall of Fame quarterback, he’s one of the best to ever do it. I wouldn’t say it’s a distraction at all. We all know what type of quarterback he is and what he brings to the table.”
Is Will Levis a Fit for the Steelers?
The Titans drafted Cam Ward with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, making Levis expendable and an intriguing target for QB-needy teams like the Steelers. Levis could benefit from offensive coordinator Arthur Smith’s system in Pittsburgh, which has a track record of maximizing quarterbacks with his skill set (such as Ryan Tannehill).
At 25 years old, Levis is still a young quarterback with a big arm and some mobility, traits that could make him an intriguing developmental option for a Pittsburgh team still unsure of its long-term direction under center.
However, a closer look at his performance data paints a mixed picture of his readiness to lead an NFL offense, particularly for a team like the Steelers that prizes smart, tough football above all.
According to PFSN’s QB+ metric, Levis graded out at just 61.9 in 2024 — a D- grade that ranked him 34th among 39 qualifying quarterbacks. This rating reflects significant concerns about his play: Levis was among the worst quarterbacks in the league from a clean pocket (0.03 EPA/DB, 37th), and he fared even worse when pressured (-0.44 EPA/DB, 29th).
His tendency for negative plays was also glaring, with 18 turnovers in just 12 appearances. These numbers underscore that while Levis flashes a powerful arm and good size, he struggles to manage the game’s finer details, especially under duress — something Steelers fans know all too well can sink an otherwise talented roster.
From the Steelers’ perspective, there are still reasons to be interested. Pittsburgh has struggled to find a consistent answer at quarterback since Ben Roethlisberger retired, with five different QBs logging three or more starts since then.
Although Rodgers remains a tantalizing option for the short term, the 42-year-old’s one-year window means Pittsburgh would still need to groom a younger quarterback for the future.
Levis, with two years left on his rookie deal, offers a low-risk, high-upside flier — a chance to reset his career in a stable environment behind one of the NFL’s top offensive lines and under Arthur Smith, a coordinator known for working well with QBs who thrive on play-action and vertical passing concepts.
Levis’ mobility and arm strength could be a fit in Pittsburgh’s system, which is expected to feature more play-action and misdirection. It’s also worth noting that the Steelers’ ground game is well-suited to take pressure off an erratic passer. That said, Levis will need to significantly improve his decision-making to earn the trust of head coach Mike Tomlin and a fanbase used to tough, gritty football.
If Pittsburgh does pull the trigger on a deal — something Moton suggests could cost just a fourth-round pick — Levis would likely start as a backup behind Rodgers (if Rodgers signs), or behind Mason Rudolph if the team’s big swing for Rodgers falls short. This would give the coaching staff time to refine his mechanics and decision-making without forcing him to carry the load from day one.
Ultimately, trading for Levis would be about balancing long-term development with immediate competitiveness. His PFSN QB+ profile and game tape reveal a quarterback who isn’t close to being a finished product, but who still holds the raw tools that made him a second-round pick.
In a situation like Pittsburgh’s, which remains in search of a long-term answer at quarterback, that might be enough of a gamble to justify a modest investment — even if the upside comes with serious risks.