Back in March 2024, Kirk Cousins stood tall behind the Falcons podium and declared, “If I play at the level I expect to play, that I can retire a Falcon.” Fast-forward nine months, and the league’s defenses intercepted that dream. Cousins tossed 16 picks, Raheem Morris pivoted to rookie Michael Penix Jr., and the 36-year-old QB was suddenly on the trade block.

Cousins still thinks he’s got gas left in the tank. “I didn’t forget how to play quarterback,” he said. “The story is still being written.” And for a brief moment, Pittsburgh looked like the next chapter. Mike Tomlin seems to be fine with the idea of giving the last ride to QBs. Russell Wilson, last season (though it didn’t work well). Linked with Aaron Rodgers as well as Kirk.

But there’s a twist. The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reported Cousins doesn’t want any part of a QB room where he’s sharing space with a young, developing arm. “It’s believed that Cousins would be against any trade that involves sending him to a situation involving a young QB, similar to one he faced in Atlanta last year.”

So what do the Steelers do? Draft Will Howard in the sixth round. A 6’5″ QB out of Ohio State with a grinder’s mentality. He joins Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson, with Aaron Rodgers still looming as a maybe. But if Rodgers doesn’t sign? Howard might be in the mix sooner than expected. He’s already impressing—texting the QB coach the day after the draft, asking for install sheets.

That’s great for Pittsburgh’s future. Not so great for Cousins, who wants no part of such a scenario. He’s chasing a clean gig, not another mentorship loop. So as rookie minicamp kicks off May 9, the Cousins-to-Steelers hype train might not even be close to Pittsburgh. But what about the AR hype? Well, there’s still hope there.

Can Aaron Rodgers get his Last Dance in Steel City?

Steelers president Art Rooney II finally gave a pulse check on the Rodgers saga, saying, “We keep hearing that he’s, I guess, headed in our direction… all signs are positive so far.” That’s as close as you get to a green light without flipping the switch.

Still, “positive” doesn’t mean done. Rooney didn’t sugarcoat it—talks have dragged longer than they’d hoped. “Didn’t envision it taking this long,” he admitted. Meanwhile, this came after Rodgers popped up in The Pat McAfee Show, saying, “I’m open to anything and attached to nothing.” He dropped one more nugget that he’s willing to play for just $10 million. So, maybe that’s why even Art is like OK with waiting for AR.

But while the wait grows, Rodgers decides why not turn Churchill Downs into his personal offseason runway. The Steel City’s hottest topic arrived in crisp suit, donning mirrored shades, and perfectly placed nonchalance. NBC’s Ahmed Fareed nailed it mid-broadcast: “Still looking for a team, but maybe he’s got his Derby horse right now.”

You’d think a quarterback pushing 42 might be home dialing up film or figuring out his next move. Not Rodgers. He was standing up in the covered stands, soaking in the scene with the kind of calm that screams: ‘I’ll make a decision when I’m damn ready.’

Now, does showing up to the Derby confirm anything? Not quite. But it sure fits the whole dramatic vibe of a perfect AR-led show: vanish, reappear somewhere unexpected, drop a cryptic quote or two, and leave the football world decoding tea leaves. If Pittsburgh’s the next stop, he’s going to walk in just like he walked into Churchill Downs—deliberate, calculated, and still dressed like the main character.