Team news: Pittsburgh Steelers

Renegade A-Rod: Four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers informed the #Steelers he’ll fly to Pittsburgh on Friday and sign before next week’s minicamp, sources tell The Insiders.

Finally, a done deal: Rodgers, 41, will play his 21st NFL season in black and gold.

Related Players: Mason Rudolph

Pelissero followed up with,

"Contract parameters have been in place for months; Rodgers has said publicly he told teams that he’ll play for $20 million, and the sides need to finalize the contract. Once he signs, he’s expected to be on the field when minicamp begins Tuesday."

This gives the Steelers pass-catchers a solid QB option, but the DK Metcalf/Rodgers pairing is incredibly interesting. We'll keep you updated on what former Packers players end up signing in Pittsburgh this summer.

Details of the Steelers-Cowboys trade expected to be completed today.

Steelers receive 2026 3rd-round pick and a 2027 5th-round pick.

Cowboys receive WR George Pickens and a 2027 6th-round pick.

Related Players: DK Metcalf, Calvin Austin III, Robert Woods, Roman Wilson, Pat Freiermuth, CeeDee Lamb, Jalen Tolbert, Jonathan Mingo, Jalen Brooks, Ryan Flournoy

With the relative lack of impactful Draft compensation, it's a wonder this didn't get done prior to or during the 2025 NFL Draft, but Pickens is on the move regardless.

For the Steelers, this makes Roman Wilson a little more intriguing as he heads into Year 2, and Freiermuth should see a little bump closer to high-end TE2 consideration.

For the Cowboys, this slightly lowers CeeDee Lamb's potentially astronomical target share, but gives QB Dak Prescott a much more reliable No. 2 option in what was already projected as a pass-heavy offense with Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders making up their backfield. Pickens is now more of a high-end WR3 than a fringe WR4.

The Steelers are signing veteran WR Robert Woods to a 1-year, $2M deal. A new target and big-time locker room presence for… whoever their QB ends up being. The former Texans WR lands in a great spot.

Related Players: DK Metcalf, George Pickens, Calvin Austin, Roman Wilson

Should Woods stick on the team until the regular season, he'll have more of an impact keeping sophomore Roman Wilson on the field than he would for the top of the depth chart. We'll have to wait and see how things shake out with Pickens' status as a Steeler throughout the summer.

As expected, the Steelers have placed a second-round RFA tender on RB Jaylen Warren, his agents told NFL Network.

Related Players: Najee Harris, Cordarrelle Patterson

This ensures that Warren will be back in Pittsburgh unless a team gives up a second-round draft pick, which won't be happening. We'll have to wait and see if the team makes anymore news in the backfield (namely, Najee), but Warren should be considered a back-end RB3 as it stands.

The Steelers are sending a 2025 second-round pick to Seattle in exchange for WR DK Metcalf.

Pittsburgh will sign Metcalf to a five-year, $150 million extension, per source.

Related Players: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, George Pickens, Calvin Austin, Mike Williams

It was reported that Metcalf wanted to play "somewhere warm" with a competitive quarterback, and the Steelers have exactly zero of those things. Metcalf will battle Pickens as Pittsburgh's WR1, with Justin Fields possibly in pole position as the starting QB. Metcalf should be considered in fringe WR2/3 range.

Two-time Pro Bowl WR DK Metcalf has requested a trade and the Seahawks have agreed to explore options.
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Days before free agency, the 27-year-old Metcalf immediately becomes the top receiver available.

Related Players: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Jake Bobo

There's no doubt there are plenty of teams that would be in the market for Metcalf's services, but it remains to be seen if this is a power move after Tyler Lockett's release or not. If Metcalf does end up leaving, JSN will absolutely rocket up WR rankings.

Seahawks are releasing an all-time franchise great, wide receiver Tyler Lockett, who piled up 8,594 receiving yards and 61 touchdowns across 10 seasons in Seattle. The Seahawks are opting to release Lockett rather than pay him his $17 million salary for this season, including a $5.3 million roster bonus due March 16.

Related Players: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, DK Metcalf

It doesn't seem like Lockett is done with the NFL, but we'll have to wait and see what kind of opportunity he'll find as a potential WR3 on another team. JSN gets a nice bump here, particularly with subsequent news that Metcalf has requested a trade.

Eagles are rewarding Saquon Barkley with a two-year, $41.2 million contract extension that makes him the highest-paid running back in NFL history, per sources. The deal makes Barkley the NFL’s first $20 million+ per-year running back. Barkley also has the ability to earn an additional $15 million in incentives and escalators. The deal includes $36 million fully guaranteed at signing.

The Eagles are taking the rare step of extending Barkley one year into his three-year deal - and in the same league year in which they signed him to the initial contract.

Related Players: Kenneth Gainwell, Will Shipley

Barkley gets the bag after a fantastic season that saw him string together breakaway runs that led to an eventually Philly Super Bowl win. Though he's up against the proverbial "age curve", he showed no signs of slowing down in '24 and should remain a high-upside fantasy commodity in '25.

Chiefs Pro-Bowl DT Chris Jones officially is inactive today vs. the Steelers.

Steelers CB Joey Porter Jr. officially is inactive, WR George Pickens officially active.

Related Players: Calvin Austin III, Van Jefferson, Mike Williams

The Steelers WR room looks a little more palatable with Pickens in the lineup, but it's still not enough to push Russell Wilson above deep-league SuperFlex territory. Consider Pickens a WR3 for Week 17.

On Tuesday, Jets interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich said that Aaron Rodgers is uncertain to play against the Bills as a result. Ulbrich added that he would bet on Rodgers being in the lineup, however.

Related players: Tyrod Taylor

Rodgers hurt his knee against the Rams last Sunday and Taylor was seen warming up on the sideline while Rodgers got medical attention, but Rodgers remained on the field for the entirety of the 19-9 loss that dropped the Jets to 4-11 for the season, the story said. Those counting on him will want to monitor his status but it looks like he at least has a chance to go in Week 17, which is in the early slate of games on Sunday.