If Aaron Rodgers plays another season, the Steelers want to make sure it's with Pittsburgh.
The franchise placed the rare right-of first-refusal tender on unrestricted free agent quarterback Aaron Rodgers, ESPN reported on Tuesday morning.
The move means Rodgers can accept a 10-percent raise from last year's salary ($13.65 million), pushing the four-time NFL MVP to approximately $15 million in base pay. The Steelers guarantee the raise and in return are granted the right to match any offer sheet Rodgers can sign with another team as a free agent.
The Steelers can gain exclusive negotiating rights with Rodgers if he does not sign by July 22 or the first day of NFL training camp.
If Rodgers signs with a new team before that date, he would be a potential compensatory free agent lost by the Steelers and a potential CFA gained by the new team, provided all other requirements are met under the Compensatory Draft System's rules.
Pittsburgh hired a familiar face in Mike McCarthy as head coach following Mike Tomlin's resignation in January. Rodgers played under McCarthy during his time with the Green Bay Packers.
Rodgers, 42, posted his 15th season with at least 3,000 yards and 20 touchdown passes with Pittsburgh in 2025.
He ranks fourth in NFL history in passing touchdowns (527) and fifth in passing yards (66,274). His career passer rating of 102.2 ranks No. 1 all-time as does his 1.4% interception percentage.
The 10-time Pro Bowl selection won Super Bowl XLV with Green Bay after the 2010 season. He owns a 163-93-1 record as a starter in the regular season with the Packers (2005-22), New York Jets (2023-24) and Steelers.
Taylor still hospitalized with stomach issue
A week after Lawrence Taylor was first hospitalized, the Pro Football Hall of Famer is still being treated for "a stomach-related issue," his attorney said Monday.
The announcement was the first official news about the condition of Taylor, 67, since he reportedly arrived at the emergency room on April 20 before being admitted.
Attorney Mark Eiglarsh said of Taylor, "At this time, the condition does not appear to be life-threatening. He remains under medical observation and is showing signs of improvement."
A potential discharge date remains unknown.
Eiglarsh added, "Lawrence asks that I convey his sincere gratitude to everyone who has been thinking of him and keeping him in their prayers during this challenging time."
Considered one of the top defensive players in NFL history, Taylor was a threetime Defensive Player of the Year, eight-time All-Pro and 10-time Pro Bowl selection during his 13-year career with the New York Giants.
In 1986, Taylor recorded 20.5 sacks en route to being named the NFL MVP.
Taylor, a key part of two Super Bowl championship runs for New York, was selected by the Giants with the second overall pick of the 1981 NFL Draft out of North Carolina.
After leaving the NFL, Taylor publicly battled substance abuse issues.
Patriots captains offer little on Vrabel's speech
New England Patriots captains Hunter Henry and Robert Spillane are pleased with the energy Mike Vrabel has brought to the team this week, but didn't offer opinions about the coach's highly-discussed off-thefield issues.
Vrabel skipped Saturday's third and final day of the NFL draft for a counseling session and returned to the team Monday as the Patriots continue their voluntary offseason workouts.
Vrabel addressed the team on April 21 and Tuesday marked the first time since the speech that players were available to the media.
Henry and Spillane both said Vrabel spoke about the situation involving former Athletic reporter Dianna Russini. The two were photographed together last month at an adults-only resort in Sedona, Ariz., holding hands, hugging and sharing a hot tub. Both are married to other people.
"I thought he did a great job," Henry said of Vrabel's talk to the team. "It's been the same Vrabes, bringing a lot of energy in the room. Obviously, he addressed it and that's kind of all I'll say about it."
Now entering his ninth NFL season, Spillane said he hasn't noticed anything out of the ordinary.
"Coach coaches football. He keeps the main thing, the main thing," Spillane said. "I know he's dealing with personal issues, but when we're in the building, we speak football. ... I love Coach and I'm going to be here to support him as he would be there to support me through anything. I'm just a player and trying to do that the best I can."
Ravens sign QBs Pavia, Fagnano
The Baltimore Ravens signed Heisman Trophy runner-up Diego Pavia, formerly of Vanderbilt, and ex-UConn quarterback Joe Fagnano to three-year contracts as undrafted free agents on Tuesday, multiple outlets reported.
Both players had been invited to attend the team's rookie mini-camp later this week but now have spots on the team's 90-man roster, which will be pared to 53 before the season begins.
They join a QB room that consists of starter Lamar Jackson, a two-time NFL Most Valuable Player, and backup Tyler Huntley.
Pavia, 24, is a dual-threat quarterback, throwing for 3,539 yards and 29 touchdowns and rushing for 862 yards and 10 more touchdowns last season. He was intercepted eight times.
Pavia was the first Heisman finalist to go undrafted since 2014, when no team selected Northern Illinois quarterback Jordan Lynch. Pavia was the first Heisman runner-up to be unselected since Iowa quarterback Brad Banks in 2003.
Last season, Fagnano finished with 3,448 yards, 28 TDs and one interception with a 161.03 passing efficiency rating. He was the only FBS quarterback with more than 200 pass attempts to have just one pass picked off. He led UConn to a 9-3 regular-season record before deciding to sit out the Fenway Bowl.
Nix underwent ankle cleanup procedure
Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix recently underwent a successful preplanned cleanup procedure on his injured right ankle, NFL Network reported on Tuesday.
The 26-year-old sustained a season-ending fractured right ankle while leading Denver to a win over the Buffalo Bills in an AFC divisional playoff game. Nix underwent surgery two days later in Alabama.
Nix, heading into his third pro season, is expected to be slowed into action throughout Denver's voluntary offseason programs and OTAs shortly after, per the report. The Broncos plan take it "very easy" with the quarterback, according to NFL Network.
"He had a recheck that was scheduled," Denver coach Sean Payton said Saturday. "He's doing great. We're excited about his progress. These guys will be coming in here. ... He's here."
BRIEFLY
EAGLES: Philadelphia Eagles assistant general manager Alec Halaby stepped down from his post on Tuesday. Halaby has spent 17 years in the organization, holding numerous roles before accepting the assistant general manager position in 2022. He played a role in the Eagles winning a pair of Super Bowl titles in 2018 and 2025. ... The Eagles locked up a pair of defensive starters through the 2027 season, picking up the fifth-year options of defensive tackle Jalen Carter and outside linebacker Nolan Smith on Monday.
VIKINGS: Free-agent wide receiver Jauan Jennings is visiting Minnesota on Tuesday and Wednesday, ESPN reported. The Vikings are looking for depth at the position after losing Jalen Nailor in free agency to the Las Vegas Raiders. Jennings had 55 catches for 643 yards and a career-best nine touchdowns in 15 games for the San Francisco 49ers in 2025.
CFL: The Canadian Football League announced on Tuesday plans to kick off its regular season earlier starting in 2027 along with a revamped playoff format that will see all but one of the league's nine teams make the postseason. Starting next year, the CFL's regular season will open during the Victoria Day holiday long weekend in May as opposed to a June start. When it comes to the postseason, there will be three rounds before the Grey Cup championship game rather than two under the current format that features six playoff teams.
