Nick Wright floats TJ Watt trade rumor as part of bold 2026 Steelers reset plan involving Anthony Richardson: "Aaron Rodgers business is a mistake"
According to Aaron Rodgers himself, he made the best decision to continue his pro career with the Pittsburgh Steelers. But a lot of people are beginning to question whether the club made the right choice in signing Rodgers. Nick Wright, an analyst for Fox Sports, clearly doesn't think so.
Wright discussed how he would have handled things differently in Pittsburgh this offseason if he had been in charge during a Tuesday appearance on Colin Cowherd's "The Herd."
"I would've taken a totally different tactic this offseason. I wouldn't have traded for DK Metcalf. I still would've traded away George Pickens. And I would have, as we are now seeing with T.J. Watt wanting a new contract, I would've traded T.J. Watt to get a first-round pick and something else.
"And I would have said, 'Mason Rudolph, you're the man,'" Wright said when asked by Omar Khan how he'd have run things in Pittsburgh this offseason.
"I think its's a mistake what they've done. And I think being in the Aaron Rodgers business was a mistake," Wright added.
A day before the free agency window opened this offseason, the Steelers made a bombshell trade with the Seattle Seahawks. They sent them a 2025 second-round pick in return for the veteran wide receiver, Metcalf.
Pittsburgh immediately signed Metcalf to a $150 million contract. Despite the fact that the team's offensive firepower was clearly lacking last season, Wright says he would not have traded for Metcalf.
Wright is opposed to the Steelers signing Rodgers as well because he thinks the two parties are not a good fit. He also thinks that the four-time NFL MVP might ruin the team's chances of selecting a franchise quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft.
"Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback 2026 has Anthony Richardson's name written all over it, because that is a very, like, buy low, maybe get something out of him. That's no path forward," Wright added.
The "First Things First" host seems to think the team will find itself in a difficult quarterback situation again in 2026, which could lead them to trade for Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson.
The trade of Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys was the only offseason move made by Pittsburgh that Wright is happy with. He was also critical of the team's decision not to trade T.J. Watt before the draft.
Aaron Rodgers could be a short-term solution or a long-term disaster for the Steelers
Aaron Rodgers is undoubtedly one of the most successful active players in the NFL, having won four NFL MVP awards and one Super Bowl. But at 41, there are reasonable concerns about whether his move to the Steelers will significantly help the team's long-term direction.
Rodgers had a respectable season with the New York Jets last year, logging 3,897 passing yards and 28 touchdowns. However, there were obvious signs of decline, as seen by his lowest completion percentage since 2015. Also, his passer rating fell to 88.7, much below his career average of 103.9.
It's safe to say that as Rodgers has entered his 40s and since his serious Achilles injury in 2023, several aspects of his game have significantly declined.
Rodgers might help coach Mike Tomlin continue his amazing 18-year streak of never recording a losing season in 2025. However, with the 2026 NFL draft expected to have better quarterback talent, some analysts think it may have been better for the Steelers to continue with Mason Rudolph.
This would have allowed them to potentially obtain a higher draft pick, thereby enabling them to acquire a long-term solution at quarterback next year.