DK Metcalf’s Pittsburgh Steelers linked to $275M Cincinnati Bengals quarterback

The Cincinnati Bengals lost their most valuable defensive end, Trey Hendrickson, to the Lamar Jackson-led Baltimore Ravens this offseason. This news may have affected their star quarterback, Joe Burrow; so much so that he recently spoke with Steelers legend James Harrison, who is reportedly trying to recruit him to Pittsburgh.During the Deebo & Joe podcast, Harrison asked legendary Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger about the possibility of Burrow joining the team. The two-time Super Bowl champion described such a move as a pipe dream and said, “It’s no brainer; you’d jump through hoops for that.” Roethlisberger expressed his interest in seeing Burrow play for Pittsburgh.If Burrow comes to DK Metcalf’s franchise, what would happen to Aaron Rodgers? Perhaps, Burrow’s interest in the Steelers was sparked by what he sees in Rodgers. Yes, it was Harrison who reportedly brought Burrow’s attention to Pittsburgh, but Burrow has long admired the veteran QB. Let’s go back in time and know how.The Cincinnati QB saw a 41-year-old Pittsburgh signal-caller truly enjoy playing football in 2025. He witnessed how he took the team to win a division title and a 10-6 record. This may have prompted the 29-year-old Burrow to stop contemplating “early retirement” and look for a place where a quarterback could enjoy playing his favorite sport.Burrow grew up watching Rodgers. As a lifelong fan, whenever Monday Night Football or Sunday Night Football came around, he’d always hope the veteran was on it.The LSU alum once remarked that Rodgers “revolutionized” the quarterback position, noting that high-level quarterbacks coaches now teach the game based on how Rodgers did it. Burrow would love to talk to the veteran and find out about his journey. He looks up to him. He admires the way the veteran handles fame. He admits that they go through a lot, but the veteran has managed to stay the same through it all.Both QBs have their own hobbies: one has the piano [Burrow] while the other has an ayahuasca retreat [Rodgers]. Both hobbies work in different ways. But their 2025 outcomes? Rodgers posted his career-best stats at 41. While Burrow was sidelined for several games due to a grade 3 turf toe injury at just 29.This may have made Bengals QB contemplate early retirement because at his season-ending press conference, he said, “If I wanna keep doing this, I have to have fun doing it…I’ve been through a lot…If it’s not fun, then what am I doing it for? That’s the mindset I’m trying to bring to the table.”He saw Rodgers have fun in Pittsburgh. Maybe that’s why he’s talking to a Steelers legend this offseason. Harrison revealed he has been talking to Burrow for weeks now. “He [Burrow]’s going to go up there and talk to Mr. [Mike] Brown [Bengals owner] to see what he needs to do, whatever he needs to do to maybe get into some black and gold,” Harrison said.This could be Harrison’s dream alone. Because some analysts are straight-out denying it.Sports Illustrated’s Zach Pressnell calls Harrison’s idea of Burrow joining Pittsburgh as one of the most outrageous statements of the 2026 offseason.Harrison may be serious about calling Burrow to Pittsburgh, but no matter what the legend claims, or the superstar quarterback is telling him: Burrow is not going to the Steelers. Yes, Pittsburgh needs a quarterback. Yes, Burrow could be an ideal target. But “there’s no world where this idea could ever come to reality,” Pressnell wrote.Sports Illustrated's Noah Strackbein suggests that if Pittsburgh trades for Burrow, the risk could come with the biggest reward: a Super Bowl. And the Steelers are built to take that kind of risk.As per Spotrac, the Ohio State alum signed a five-year, $275M worth contract extension, including $219M in guaranteed money, with Cincinnati in September 2023. This keeps him through 2029. He is scheduled to earn a $25M base salary and a $10M signing bonus while carrying a $47M cap hit and a $74M dead cap value in 2026. His total career earnings are $177M. Now, would Harrison’s idea come to fruition? Only time will tell…