The Pittsburgh Steelers will hope Aaron Rodgers discovers the Fountain of Youth and plays up to past standards in 2025. However, one veteran NFL insider no longer considers the four-time MVP among the league’s elite players.
On Tuesday, CBS Sports unveiled Pete Prisco’s top-100 player rankings. The list includes 11 quarterbacks, with Patrick Mahomes garnering the No. 1 spot and AFC North foes Lamar Jackson (No. 6) and Joe Burrow (No. 7) inside the top 10.
Rodgers, on the other hand, didn’t make the cut. Prisco’s CBS colleague, Jeff Kerr, also didn’t mention the 41-year-old when identifying Sam Darnold and Matthew Stafford as the two biggest quarterback snubs.
It’s hardly an egregious exclusion based on Rodgers’ New York Jets tenure. After suffering a season-ending Achilles tear in his 2023 debut, the longtime Green Bay Packers superstar posted his lowest quarterback rating (90.5) as a starter in 2024.
The Jets went 5-12 behind Rodgers, who amassed 3,897 passing yards, 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. His 48.0 QBR ranked 25th at the position, and he finished 19th in expected points added.
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Rodgers’ absence from Prisco’s rankings may merely show that the quarterback position is deeper than ever. His former Packers teammate, Jordan Love, was the last signal-caller ranked (No. 92) after tossing 57 touchdowns in two seasons since replacing Rodgers.
Former Steelers quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Justin Fields also didn’t make the top 100. Neither did offseason acquisition DK Metcalf, but Pittsburgh is represented by defensive stalwarts T.J. Watt (No. 11) and Cameron Heyward (No. 37).
The Steelers probably shouldn’t expect a return to peak MVP form in his 21st year, but Rodgers could nevertheless elevate their ceiling as AFC contenders.
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Featured image via Morgan Tencza/Imagn Images