After passing on plenty of quarterbacks within the 2025 NFL Draft, together with Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders a number of instances, many are questioning the Pittsburgh Steelers and their general plan on the place transferring ahead.
The Steelers finally drafted Ohio State’s Will Howard within the sixth spherical, however many don’t view him as a long-term starter. The Steelers are additionally nonetheless ready on a choice from 41-year-old quarterback Aaron Rodgers, although issues appear rather more optimistic there than earlier than.
However passing on big-name QBs within the draft a number of instances and including elsewhere like line of defense, working again and even exterior linebacker has many puzzled and questioning what the Steelers’ plan is.
One nameless govt informed The Athletic’s Mike Sando — in an unfiltered execs piece on the 2025 NFL Draft for The Athletic — that the Steelers are “meandering within the wilderness” at quarterback, biding their time till they discover somebody they like.
“They’re meandering within the wilderness right here, and they’re going to proceed to do this till there may be any individual they like, after which they may draft him,” the exec mentioned of the Steelers to Sando, in response to The Athletic. “They’re doing what they do, and it has confirmed to work out fairly darn nicely for them on the entire.
“Might this yr be tough? Would that be a nasty factor? Most likely not.”
Meandering within the wilderness is an effective approach to put it for the Steelers over the previous couple of years at quarterback.
Initially, the Steelers believed that Kenny Pickett was going to be their long-term reply at quarterback after drafting him No. 20 general within the 2022 NFL Draft. However after two years, Pickett wasn’t understanding, the Steelers introduced in Russell Wilson on an inexpensive, one-year deal, after which Pickett requested a commerce, touchdown with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Now, Pickett is with the Cleveland Browns and is going to have his fifth-year possibility declined.
Wilson didn’t precisely work out with the Steelers, both. There have been some nice moments, however ultimately he and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith clashed, the Steelers misplaced 5 straight video games down the stretch whereas failing to attain greater than 17 factors in a recreation, and it was time to maneuver on there.
Justin Fields was possible going to be the reply for the Steelers for 2025, however he and Pittsburgh have been unable to come back to an settlement on a deal, and Fields signed with the New York Jets. So, the eye has shifted to Rodgers for the 2025 season.
Is it very best? No, having a 41-year-old quarterback with considerably declining mobility behind a younger offensive line nonetheless looking for its method just isn’t the very best reply, however choices are the Steelers’ choices are restricted.
So, they’re actually meandering within the wilderness, biding their time and ready till there’s a quarterback accessible they like. That any individual may very well be within the 2026 NFL Draft class, which many are projecting to be fairly good on the quarterback place.
We’ll see if that winds up being the case on the finish of the 2025 school soccer season. Whether it is, the Steelers ought to have some vital ammo with draft picks and compensatory picks to get aggressive and transfer as much as land their potential quarterback of the longer term.
