The NFL received a massive shakeup when the Pittsburgh Steelers opted to place an unrestricted free agency tender on 42-year-old quarterback Aaron Rodgers. And while fans scramble for answers, one well-respected insider believes the mystery may already be solved.

According to Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Steelers' decision to tender Rodgers was nothing more than a "formality" to make sure their potential compensatory pick stays intact.

"That’s why the Steelers placed the tender on Rodgers — a formality to protect their ability to get a compensatory pick, sources said. The Steelers would not receive a compensatory pick if Rodgers signed with another team after July 22," Dulac wrote.

Rodgers, who threw for 3,322 yards and 24 touchdowns in his first season as a Steeler, was projected to make his decision for the 2026 season before the NFL Draft. But Pittsburgh now seemingly controls all the leverage in the situation.

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This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers placed tender on Rodgers for compensatory pick, per insider