For months, Aaron Rodgers had said all the right things to the Pittsburgh Steelers, if not to everyone else. He had asked about practice schedules. He had throwing sessions with new Steelers receiver DK Metcalf . He had been in communication with head coach Mike Tomlin. He had given the Steelers every reason to believe he would eventually be theirs, as long as he did not shift field and completely leave the game.

During that time, the Steelers could only wait, knowing they were Rodgers' only potential landing spot, but having no more significant insight into his timeline than anyone else. Notably, Pittsburgh waited until the sixth round in April's draft to select a quarterback, Will Howard , about as clear as sign as possible that the team was confident Rodgers would be its QB1.

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