Pittsburgh Steelers newly signed free agent cornerback Brandin Echols meets with reporters Thursday, March 13, 2025, in Pittsburgh.
Brandin Echols may have been one of the lesser acclaimed Steelers signees early in free agency. But upon his arrival in Pittsburgh Thursday, the ex-New York Jets cornerback shed a lot of light on one of the most discussed players in the maelstrom of Steelers free agency.
Former New York teammate Aaron Rodgers.
"Heck, yeah. Tell his (butt) come on," Echols said of Rodgers' potential signing in Pittsburgh.
The Steelers are one of three teams (along with the New York Giants and Minnesota Vikings) that are apparently considering signing Rodgers. He became a free agent for the first time in his 20-year career Thursday after the Jets officially released him.
Despite the swirl of drama that so frequently follows Rodgers wherever he goes, Echols insists he had a good relationship with the future Hall of Fame quarterback.
"I'm a ducked-off, laid-back type of guy. I try to get a feel for everybody," Echols said. "He just started pushing his way toward me and making jokes. Poking at me and stuff. After a while, we just started talking."
Echols says his bond with Rodgers was forged in the locker room.
"I used to have a hairdo thing that I used to do. He would look at me and say if my hair was on the right side, 'He's mad.' If it's on the left side, 'He's happy.' If it was in the middle, 'You don't know what you are going to get.'"
In terms of how much gas Rodgers has left in the tank, Echols insists Rodgers can still play, and he had a good season in New York despite the Jets' decision to cut him loose.
"I think he played good, especially toward the end of the season. I wish the outcome was a little better. But I think toward the end of the season he really started to wake up," Echols said.
Rodgers finished with 27 touchdown passes, tied with Josh Allen for seventh in the NFL. He was eighth in passing yards with 3,897.
However, Rodgers threw 11 interceptions (tied for the third most in his career). He was sacked 40 times, his most since 2018. Also, Rodgers' average yards per attempt of 6.7 was tied for the lowest of his career, and his 90.5 passer rating was the lowest of his career.
Echols also remembers playing against new Steelers receiver DK Metcalf in high school and current Steelers wide receiver George Pickens last year.
"(Metcalf) was a handful, I will say that. But I was an offensive threat in high school," Echols said. "Playing against George, he's tall, long, a relentless attitude. You don't know what you are going to get from him sometimes. You better be ready to ball with him, though."
Pickens had two catches for 55 yards and a touchdown as the Steelers beat the Jets, 37-15, in Russell Wilson's Pittsburgh debut.
Echols also allowed a TD against Van Jefferson in that game. Rodgers was 24 of 39 for 276 yards, a touchdown and a pair of interceptions in that game.
Both of those interceptions were turned in by Beanie Bishop, another player Echols knows on the Steelers. The same agency represents them. Ironically, both of them may be fighting for snaps in the Steelers' secondary as 2025 moves along.
Echols, though, has been more of an outside player than a slot corner, where Bishop tends to play.