Within the buildup to the 2025 NFL Draft, the quarterback place was an enormous subject of dialogue for the Pittsburgh Steelers, particularly because the franchise continued to take a look at plenty of large names on the place within the draft class, together with Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart, Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, and Louisville’s Tyler Shough.
Reviews surfaced that the Steelers had first-round grades on each Dart and Sanders, and if a man like Sanders was on the board at No. 21 total, they’d entertain the thought of drafting a quarterback.
However ultimately, the Steelers had their shot on Sanders and Dart at No. 21 and in the end went with Oregon defensive lineman Derrick Harmon. The truth is, the Steelers had their shot at Sanders a number of instances, however selected to go time and time once more.
In the end, the Steelers drafted a quarterback, that being Ohio State’s Will Howard at No. 185 total within the sixth spherical, getting an enormous, robust quarterback that may function a developmental piece for the Black and Gold throughout the 2025 season.
That transfer to land Howard that land was a transparent sign from the Steelers, at the very least for The Athletic’s Robert Mays, that they weren’t keen to overextend themselves in a foul quarterback class and make the similar errors they did in 2022 with Kenny Pickett.
“I all the time thought that made probably the most sense so far as this class was involved, and that’s what they advised us. They didn’t draft a quarterback till the sixth spherical, and I’m certain Steelers followers are feeling somewhat bit itchy and uneasy primarily based on the lacking spot on their depth chart proper now,” Mays stated of the Steelers and the decision-making at quarterback within the draft. “If you happen to have a look at it, it’s Mason Rudolph and never a lot else.
“However I’m not stunned that the Steelers weren’t keen to overextend themselves once more as a result of they’re nonetheless coping with the autumn of the final time a draft appeared like this, and so they felt the necessity to pull the set off.”
Getting into the draft, Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson had been the one quarterbacks on the roster for the Steelers. Clearly Howard is added to that blend now. However the Steelers are lacking that really viable, No. 1 beginning quarterback.
They weren’t going to search out that within the 2025 NFL Draft, and so they knew that, which is why they handed on the place time and time once more, as an alternative turning their focus in the direction of Aaron Rodgers for 2025, and seemingly setting themselves up for the 2026 NFL Draft and an enormous swing there in what many are projecting to be an excellent quarterback class.
It’s comprehensible that some inside the fanbase and lots of inside the media are questioning the Steelers and the choice making at quarterback up to now this offseason. However they haven’t made an enormous mistake on the place this offseason through free company by committing pointless funds, or by the draft by spending pointless premium draft capital on the place.
Ought to Rodgers signal, the Steelers must be simply tremendous for 2025. Will that be sufficient to win a playoff sport? In all probability not, however it should have them set as much as swing large within the 2026 NFL Draft class and go and get a possible long-term franchise quarterback in what’s considered as an excellent class.
