Tim Benz: Aaron Rodgers is the X-factor in meeting his own 'expectations' with Steelers

During his first training camp interview as a Steeler, quarterback Aaron Rodgers was asked if he had expectations for himself and the team.

“I do, yes,” Rogers flatly replied.

And they might be?

“I’m not telling you,” Rodgers quipped back.

Conversely, Steelers general manager Omar Khan didn’t feel the need to restrain his thoughts on the matter when he spoke to the media this week.

“Our goal is to win a Super Bowl,” Khan said Wednesday. “I’m very appreciative to (team president) Art Rooney for this opportunity. I feel like I owe it to him and to the organization, to the fans, to do everything I can to win the Super Bowl. That’s what they want. That’s what I want. So that’s our goal.”

When Khan’s remarks were relayed to Rodgers, the quarterback gave a more in-depth response.

“I think most of the 32 teams would probably say something to that accord at this time of the year,” Rodgers replied. “I think that there’s really only six to eight that really have a legitimate chance. Sometimes it’s 10 to 12, and there are teams that surprise you. But I would say, on paper, we’re probably one of those 10 to 12.”

In my opinion, Rodgers is being optimistic but not entirely unrealistic.

I view the Steelers one notch below. I see them more in that 13-to-18 range. There are seven teams that make the playoffs in each conference. My bet is that the 2025 Steelers will be in their typical scrum to either make the last wild card slot, or find themselves out of the postseason.

It’s roughly been that way six of the past seven years. I see no reason why this year’s campaign will end differently.

If Rodgers shares that same goal Khan has — and Khan is just saying that quiet part out loud — then Rodgers better understand that he is the X-factor to achieving his own ambitions.

If the Steelers want to jump from that 13-to-18 range into the 10-to-12 range Rodgers is projecting, he’s going to have to be the biggest reason why that happens.

Related

• Steelers defense pledges to create new ways for T.J. Watt, rest of the pash rush to creat havoc
• First Call: Mike Tomlin's early praise for Kaleb Johnson; potential trades for Mitch Keller, David Bednar
• Steelers' Jonnu Smith bonds with Pat Freiermuth, believes they can be NFL's best tight end duo

As we outlined in advance of training camp, what is “on paper” for the Steelers isn’t all that different from what was the case last year.

• A promising but unproven offensive line.

• Lack of a No. 2 wide receiver.

• Accomplished, but aging players on defense.

• Last year, we saw some depth at safety, but it was thin at cornerback. Now that has flip-flopped.

And, most importantly, the team boasts a former All-Pro quarterback looking for a resurrection in Pittsburgh after the second stop on his path to the Hall of Fame didn’t work out so well.

Does any of this sound familiar?

Rodgers was asked how the Steelers can go from being a 10-to-12 team “on paper” to actually making it happen on the field.

“I think it’s coming together at times like this — with these 17 or so practices that we have (in training camp) and finding chemistry. Hanging out with each other in the lunchroom, and the different times that we have, and growing together through our practice,” Rodgers replied.

Sure. That’s a response a veteran QB is going to give. But the more realistic answer is that Rodgers’ own play is what’s going to take his “on paper” theory and make it a reality.

He’s the biggest variable. He’s either got enough gas in the tank to at least be a reasonable facsimile of the quarterback he was back in 2021, or he’s going to be another version of Russell Wilson — a QB that was 6-6 as a starter.

A QB (based on the level of competition and how the schedule breaks) who is good enough to win six of seven, or lose five in a row.

To be fair to both Khan and Rodgers, “goals” and “expectations” are entirely different things.

My goal was to play second base for the Pirates one day. My expectation was that I’d probably top out as someone who batted eighth on their Pony League team.

Nailed that one.

The “expectation” that Rodgers probably didn’t want to say out loud is probably the one most Pittsburghers have been grumbling about for the last eight years.

”Just at least win a playoff game!”

That’d be in the 10-to-12 range Rodgers referenced. That’d probably mean going on the road in the first round of the postseason and pulling off an upset for a change, as opposed to getting blown out.

If that’s where Rodgers’ goals and expectations meet, he himself will be the biggest reason why he walks away from his final NFL season fulfilled or disappointed.

LISTEN: Tim Benz and Jeff Erickson of RotoWire host their weekly Fantasy Sports podcast.