It’s been greater than two weeks because the conclusion of the 2025 NFL Draft. Gamers have gone via rookie minicamp and rosters are largely set forward of OTAs, minicamp and coaching camp across the NFL.
And but, Professional Soccer Focus nonetheless can’t perceive why the Pittsburgh Steelers got here out of the NFL Draft with out choosing a quarterback through the first two days in Inexperienced Bay, particularly as they proceed to attend for official phrase from veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
PFF’s Jonathon Macri highlighted the Steelers not choosing a QB within the first two days of the draft as considered one of his greatest surprises post-draft, writing about it Monday morning for PFF.com.
“Whether or not the signing of Aaron Rodgers was going to be made official or the Steelers chosen a quarterback throughout the first three rounds, there was an actual chance that the workforce would come out of the 2025 NFL Draft with a a lot clearer image of their Week 1 starter,” Macri writes relating to the Steelers’ choice making at quarterback within the draft. “However with Rodgers nonetheless floating round in free company and the workforce not spending a choose on a quarterback (Will Howard) till the sixth spherical, questions in regards to the workforce’s plan surprisingly stay unanswered a number of weeks faraway from the 2025 NFL Draft.”
Macri has some extent that the plan in 2025 nonetheless stays a bit unclear for the Steelers at quarterback. Rodgers is believed to be coming to the Steelers, however till that’s official, nothing could be assumed with Rodgers. However one factor is obvious with the Steelers and the choice at QB within the draft: They weren’t offered on any of the massive names on the place within the 2025 class.
As a substitute, they’re seemingly loading up for the 2026 NFL Draft class, which many consider will likely be a lot better at QB than the category that was simply drafted. If that’s the case, the Steelers could have loads of draft capital to commerce up, if want be.
However they nonetheless have a season to get via in 2025, which Macri is fearful about.
“As issues stand, Mason Rudolph is the workforce’s projected starter. For head coach Mike Tomlin, who has made the playoffs in 12 of his 18 years on the helm, that doesn’t bode effectively,” Macri mentioned of the Steelers’ plan at QB. “Rudolph owns a profession 61.7 PFF passing grade, which ranks 51st amongst 66 qualifying quarterbacks with at the very least 500 dropbacks since 2019. Pittsburgh additionally lately traded beginning huge receiver George Pickens with out having a transparent second choice within the passing recreation to help the workforce’s beginning at quarterback in 2025.
“…It wouldn’t be a shock, based mostly on the present offense, if the Steelers completed within the backside half of the league this season.”
Final week, PFF highlighted the Steelers’ offense as one of many “least improved” models within the NFL. That got here after the commerce of huge receiver George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys, so there are some considerations.
A younger offensive line must be higher with extra expertise, DK Metcalf has to ship on his No. 1 WR wage, TE Pat Freiermuth has to take a step ahead, and rookie working again Kaleb Johnson must be the true No. 1 RB that the Steelers envision him being. Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell must even be play-makers in change-of-pace roles.
If Rodgers indicators, that can elevate the Steelers’ offense. However proper now, nothing can really be assumed.
One factor is obvious although: The Steelers didn’t draft a QB on the primary two days of the draft as a result of they didn’t deem one worthy sufficient of being a future franchise QB, like Jaxson Dart, Shedeur Sanders, Tyler Shough or Jalen Milroe — names they have been linked to within the pre-draft course of.
As a substitute, they drafted Will Howard out of Ohio State, who tasks as a superb slot in offensive coordinator Arthur Smith’s scheme and doesn’t negate them from drafting a quarterback early in 2026. The plan may not be clear from the skin to nationwide media members, however how GM Omar Khan has gone about this offseason makes some sense when trying to 2026’s NFL Draft in Pittsburgh.
