Steelers' Cameron Heyward clarifies comments on Aaron Rodgers
Wed Mar 26 12:03pm ET
Field Level Media
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Cameron Heyward said his words were "misconstrued" when he initially addressed the notion of quarterback Aaron Rodgers joining his team.
Speaking on NFL Network's "Good Morning Football," Heyward said on he was answering a specific question on his podcast as to whether he'd chase the four-time NVP into a darkness retreat in order to get him to play for the Steelers.
"Either you want to be a Pittsburgh Steeler, or you don't. It's that simple. That's the pitch," Heyward said at the time.
Heyward elected to clarify his stance on Wednesday, five days after Rodgers visited the Steelers.
"Yes, it was misconstrued. From my point of view, I was asked the question of, 'Would you go to the lengths of going to a darkness retreat to recruit Aaron Rodgers?' I said, 'I'm not doing that,' " Heyward said. "The pitch is: If you wanna be a Steeler, be a Steeler. It wasn't meant that I don't like Rodgers or I'm against it. I think when I look at our team right now, it would be really cool to have a guy like Aaron Rodgers, but I can't be the guy who gets it over the finish line. I think he's got to make those decisions for himself."
The free-agent quarterback landscape has changed, with the New York Giants signing both Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston and the Minnesota Vikings reportedly content on going forward with J.J. McCarthy -- narrowing the teams that could have a spot for Rodgers. The 10th overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft. McCarthy missed the entire season following surgery to repair his torn right meniscus.
"I have not had any communication with (Rodgers)," Heyward said. "I was actually with some strength coaches that day he was in the building. I think they were trying to get everybody out of the building so they could just have a conversation with him. But what I would say to him? I would just say, you know, if you come to the Pittsburgh Steelers, the goal is to win. You know, we haven't had the success we want, but the goal is still in mind to raise a Lombardi and bring that seventh one to Pittsburgh. We don't really care about the glitz and glam of New York, but the focus is on good hard football, competing every day, challenging each other, trying to go from there."
The New York Jets released Rodgers on March 12, making him a free agent for the first time in his career.
The only quarterbacks on the Steelers' current roster are Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson.
Rodgers, 41, passed for 3,897 yards and 28 touchdowns in 2024, returning from a season-ending Achilles injury suffered in his first game with the Jets in September 2023.
The 10-time Pro Bowl selection and four-time NFL Most Valuable Player ranks fifth in league history in touchdown passes (503) and seventh in passing yards (62,952).
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The Paur Report
Dynasty | Former 49ers and Cowboys quarterback Trey Lance has been added to the Saskatchewan Roughriders negotiation list. Dynasty Analysis: He hasn't signed with the CFL as of yet, but this is the latest sign Lance is receiving little to no interest at all by NFL teams. The latest example of team drafting potential over production only to see it go horribly wrong, Lance is seemingly looking outside the league in an attempt to rejuvenate his career. At this point, he's nowhere close to being worthy of an NFL roster spot after flaming out in San Francisco and showing next to nothing in Dallas as well.
Dynasty | The Raiders have signed tight end Ian Thomas. Dynasty Analysis: Thomas was once a pretty hot sleeper prospect during his time in Carolina. However, calf injuries have limited him to just eight catches over the past two years and he's now 29 years old. He could carve out a role with the Raiders if Michael Mayer gets moved, but it's hard to find a reason to actually keep him on a dynasty roster at this point.
The Las Vegas Raiders announced on Tuesday that they signed free-agent tight end Ian Thomas (calf) to an undisclosed deal on Tuesday. Thomas will head to the AFC West after spending the first seven years of his NFL career with the Carolina Panthers after they selected him in the fourth round (101st overall) in the 2018 NFL draft out of Indiana. The 28-year-old never really established himself as a fantasy asset in Carolina, with his best season coming in his rookie campaign with a 36-333-2 line on 49 targets in 16 games (six starts). Thomas landed on Injured Reserve in 2024 with a calf injury and only caught three of six targets for seven yards in five games (two starts). He scored four touchdowns in his first three seasons but hasn't found the end zone since. In Vegas, he'll provide TE depth behind Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer and will remain off the fantasy radar.
Free-agent QB Aaron Rodgers (Jets) will likely play with the Pittsburgh Steelers if he decides to play in 2025, in the opinion of NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport.
Fantasy Spin: Rodgers is a QB2 in fantasy and will really have to find a way to rekindle some mobility in the pocket two years from a torn Achilles in order to be worthwhile in drafts.
From TheHuddle
Free-agent wide receiver Stefon Diggs (knee) reached an agreement with the New England Patriots on Tuesday on a three-year, $69 million contract that includes $26 million guaranteed, sources tell ESPN's Adam Schefter. Diggs, who tore his ACL with the Houston Texans in Week 8 against the Indianapolis Colts last year, is on track to return for Week 1 of the upcoming 2025 season. It's a big reason why the Patriots were comfortable giving the 31-year-old veteran a three-year, $69 million contract. Before his injury last year, Diggs put up 47 receptions on 64 targets for 496 yards and three touchdowns for Houston. In New England (if healthy), he'll be second-year quarterback Drake Maye's unquestioned top wideout, giving him a chance to bounce back in fantasy as a risk/reward WR2. Diggs' fantasy stock will be in flux this summer until he proves he's indeed ready to go without restrictions heading into Week 1.
From RotoBaller
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From RotoBaller
Dynasty | The Giants have signed free agent quarterback Russell Wilson. Dynasty Analysis: One of the last big quarterback dominoes has now fallen as Wilson has a new home. While he hasn't been able to produce near the magic he did in Seattle with Denver or Pittsburgh, he was more than competent last season with the Steelers, posting 2,482 passing yards with 16 touchdowns and just five interceptions. He'll give the Giants another veteran presence as he joins Jameis Winston on the depth chart. This move clearly won't step the Giants from drafting a rookie quarterback but also won't force their hand. Should Wilson enter the season as a starter, he'll be a decent QB2 for as long as he holds the job. He just isn't going to be a long-term answer anywhere at this point in his career, however.
Dynasty | The Patriots have signed wide receiver Stefon Diggs. Dynasty Analysis: Diggs did just fine in free agency, inking a three-year deal worth up to $69 million with $26 million guaranteed. The $26 million in guaranteed money matches that of Davante Adams for the most this off-season for a receiver. The total value is $24 million more than Cooper Kupp received and $25 million more than Adams. In other words, Diggs got his money. There were few places better to land for a receiver than New England, so dynasty managers should breathe easy. Still, Diggs is coming off a torn ACL and should be treated more as a WR2 than WR1 at this point in his career. His ADP should stabilize with the move, however.
Free-agent WR Stefon Diggs (Texans) agreed to terms on a three-year contract with the New England Patriots Tuesday, March 25, worth $69 million, according to sources. The deal includes $26 million in guaranteed money.
Fantasy Spin: Diggs is recovering from a serious knee injury but seems to have a good chance to be ready for the start of the 2025 season. He will be the main option in the passing game for the Patriots and probably will be at least a No. 3 receiver in most fantasy leagues.
From TheHuddle
Free-agent QB Russell Wilson (Steelers) agreed to terms on a one-year contract with the New York Giants Tuesday, March 25, worth as much as $21 million, according to sources. The deal includes $10.5 million in guaranteed money.
Fantasy Spin: Wilson appears to be on track to start for the Giants based on the money he will be receiving. He had some success with the Steelers last season but did struggle at the end of the season. He can be a No. 2 quarterback in fantasy leagues next season if he starts for the Giants.
From TheHuddle
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From RotoBaller
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From RotoBaller
Former Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart is one of the top signal-caller prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft class. It has been assumed for much of the pre-draft process that Miami's Cam Ward and Colorado's Shedeur Sanders will be first-round picks, but momentum is building for Dart to be the third quarterback selected inside Round 1. ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. projects Dart to be selected by the New Orleans Saints with the No. 9 overall pick, and DraftKings Sportsbook's current line for over 2.5 quarterbacks in Round 1 is set at -330. Dart began his college career at USC before transferring to Ole Miss ahead of the 2022 campaign. The three-year SEC starter compiled a 28-10 record behind 72 passing touchdowns and 22 interceptions. Potential QB-needy teams set to pick outside the top five include the Saints, New York Jets, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Indianapolis Colts.
From RotoBaller
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From TheHuddle
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From RotoBaller
Free-agent cornerback Chidobe Awuzie is signing a one-year deal with the Baltimore Ravens, according to NFL.com. The 29-year-old signed with the Tennessee Titans last offseason but lasted just one year with the team before being released. Awuzie spent the first four seasons of his NFL career with the Dallas Cowboys followed by three seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals. Overall, the former second-round pick has compiled 395 tackles (290 solo), five forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, seven interceptions, and 66 pass deflections in 94 career games. Awuzie was limited to just eight games last year due to a groin injury. He is set to provide depth and a veteran presence in the Baltimore secondary that allowed 238.3 passing yards per game (27th) a season ago.
From RotoBaller
ESPN's Adam Schefter said on The Pat McAfee Show that the New York Giants' quarterback room is and continues to be a work in progress, even after they signed veteran signal-caller Jameis Winston last week. The Giants also re-signed Tommy DeVito and are very much still in the market for free-agent QB Russell Wilson. Schefter believes that even if Wilson ends up signing in New York, the G-Men could select Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders with the third overall pick in the upcoming NFL draft in April. Because of how much the Giants have struggled at the QB position, they are going to do anything they can to address it in the short and long term in free agency and the draft. Whether Sanders is the Giants' starting QB in Week 1 of the 2025 season is another story, and that would likely depend on whether they also have Wilson or Aaron Rodgers on their roster.
From RotoBaller
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From RotoBaller
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (knee) said on the Up & Adams Show that the team hasn't told him that he's the starting QB going into the 2025 season this fall, and he's "happy they didn't." The Vikings reportedly told free-agent quarterback Aaron Rodgers that they aren't considering signing him, which essentially sent the message that the team is moving forward with McCarthy, a first-rounder last year, as their starting QB, even though he missed all of his rookie season with a torn meniscus suffered in the preseason. The Vikings are still expected to add a veteran signal-caller after losing both Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones in free agency, but it won't be someone that pushes the 22-year-old McCarthy for the starting gig. Something could change once the Vikings begin offseason workouts, but for now, all signs point to McCarthy starting in Week 1 this fall.
From RotoBaller
