Steelers Place Seldom-Used Tender On Free Agent QB Aaron Rodgers

In a rare move, the Pittsburgh Steelers placed a UFA tender on veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers on Monday.

Using the UFA tender allows the Steelers to receive a compensatory draft pick if Rodgers decides to sign with another team, and it also limits him to signing with a team before training camp begins. This gives the Steelers exclusive negotiating rights if he does not sign with a team before July 22.

This will also allow Rodgers to accept a 10% raise over his last year’s salary, which would put his total contract at $15 million.

The Steelers still remain confident that they will strike a deal with the future Hall-of-Fame quarterback despite placing this tender on him. The decision is considered “procedural” if he decides to go to another team.

Rodgers didn’t sign until early June last year, signing a one-year deal right before the Steelers’ mandatory minicamp began.

The Steelers did draft a quarterback in the NFL draft, selecting former Penn State quarterback Drew Allar in the third round.

Head coach Mike McCarthy said that drafting Allar had no implications on Rodgers’ future with the Steelers, saying, “This is about developing the room and trying to make the room as deep as we possibly can.”