Pittsburgh Steelers sign QB Aaron Rodgers

Aaron Rodgers' one-year, $15.015M signing with Pittsburgh earns a **B Contract Value Index (CVI)** — a measured endorsement that reflects genuine value creation without demanding perfection. At his quarterback tier and age, a single-year prove-it deal at this price point is neither a steal nor an overpay; it's a pragmatic middle ground that respects both his elite pedigree and the real durability questions that have defined the last two seasons. The sub-$16M AAV is substantially lighter than franchise-tag territory for his position, giving the Steelers meaningful cap relief while providing Rodgers a low-risk runway to re-establish himself in a fresh system — the contract structure alone signals mutual caution, not blind faith. Where the CVI holds value is in the optionality: if Rodgers performs at his historical standard, Pittsburgh has a bargain franchise quarterback and room to build around him; if the durability concerns persist, the organization absorbs a manageable hit and retains flexibility. The real pressure isn't on the salary cap — it's on production, and recent national discourse suggests skepticism remains despite training camp visibility. For a team sitting at 10-7 and playoff-seeded in the AFC North, this signing is neither a championship window accelerator nor a dead-end gamble; it's a calculated reset that demands execution to justify the optimism now building around the quarterback room.