Steelers’ Best Offseason Move Wasn’t Signing Aaron Rodgers, Report Says

This is a bit of a shocker.

After watching Russell Wilson and Justin Fields leave via free agency, the Steelers knew they had to find a new quarterback this offseason. Pittsburgh passed on selecting a signal-caller in the 2025 NFL Draft and instead went big by signing four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers.

Yet that wasn’t the team’s best offseason move, according to CBS Sports’ Tyler Sullivan. So what was? How about the player Rodgers will be targeting most during the season.

“The Pittsburgh Steelers had long been on the hunt for a star wide receiver to inject into their offense and finally found it in DK Metcalf,” Sullivan wrote Wednesday. “The club acquired the former Seattle Seahawks star in a blockbuster trade that also featured the organization signing him to a five-year, $150 million extension to ensure he’ll be in town for the foreseeable future.

“While their long-term quarterback plan is in a state of flux with Aaron Rodgers only signed through 2025, the Steelers will have a true No. 1 option for whoever is under center in the years to come.”

While Metcalf figures to get the most targets, the rest of the Steelers’ depth chart at receiver is less settled. That’s because the team traded George Pickens last month to the Cowboys. Pittsburgh received a 2026 third-round pick for Pickens. In addition, Dallas also sent a 2027 fifth-round pick to the Steelers and got back a 2027 sixth-round pick.

Pickens, who was a second-round pick in 2022, is entering the final year of his rookie contract. He had at least 50 receptions, 800 yards and three touchdowns in each of his three seasons with Pittsburgh.

So it will be up to Metcalf to help make up for that loss in production. The 27-year-old receiver, a second-round pick of the Seattle Seahawks in 2019, had at least 900 receiving yards in each of his six NFL seasons.

More Steelers: NFC Coach Reveals Signing Aaron Rodgers Was Offseason ‘Possibility’