CBS Draft Expert Thinks Steelers Potential Selection Jaxson Dart Is Only A Slight Improvement From Kenny Pickett

A month from now, the Pittsburgh Steelers will be on the clock with the 21st pick of the 2025 NFL Draft. Suppose the Steelers have not addressed the quarterback situation when they arrive in Green Bay, Wisconsin on draft day. In that case, the decision to select a quarterback in the first-round will be enticing, unless Pittsburgh decides to wait to take a quarterback until round three. Success in the NFL is based on the guy taking the snaps, which has caused teams in desperation to overvalue second-day talent. Instead of taking the best available player, many franchises have talked themselves into drafting a quarterback in round one who would typically be a second or third-day pick. 

As the Steelers continue to be in quarterback limbo while they await Aaron Rodgers' decision, the potential of drafting a quarterback on day one is increasing. However, the Steelers do not currently sit in the ideal spot historically to draft a franchise-altering quarterback. In the last 25 years, 11 quarterbacks have been drafted from picks 20 to 29 and only two have proven to be the cornerstone of an organization. One of those guys is Aaron Rodgers, who was selected by the Green Bay Packers in 2005. The other is Jordan Love, also selected by the Green Bay Packers 15 years after Rodgers. 

Since the NFL Draft in 2000, selecting a quarterback in the 20s of the first round has not been promising for any franchise, except Green Bay. In this period, the Cleveland Browns selected the most quarterbacks in the 20s of round one with three, and the Denver Broncos, along with the Green Bay Packers, selected two quarterbacks. The seven quarterbacks drafted between these three franchises are Rodgers, Love, Brady Quinn, Johnny Manziel, Brandon Weeden, Tim Tebow, and Paxton Lynch. If the Pittsburgh Steelers decide to draft Jaxson Dart with the 21st pick in the first-round, he will join Kenny Pickett as the team's two quarterbacks drafted in the 20s since 2000. NFL Draft Expert Ryan Wilson of CBS Sports believes this would be a mistake by the Steelers. 

"They've been burned by this once," said Ryan Wilson. "Jaxson Dart, is he better than Kenny Pickett? Yes. Is he substantially better than Pickett? No."

Following Ben Roethlisberger's retirement after the 2021 season, the Steelers became one of those teams urgent to solve the quarterback issue. This led to the decision to take Pickett in the first-round in a draft that was not deep at the quarterback position. After letting Justin Fields and potentially Russell Wilson walk in free agency this offseason, the Steelers find themselves in a dire position once again. Another thin quarterback class where some guys who would typically be day two or three guys, may find themselves hearing their name called on day one. 

The Steelers drafting Dart in the first-round would be very similar to the Pickett pick in 2022. Dart and Pickett compare almost evenly in stature. If selected in round one, Dart could also benefit from from a slim quarterback class, much like Pickett. During their collegiate careers, both Pickett and Dart displayed NFL potential. However, the risk of drafting a quarterback in the first-round based on potential could setback a franchise even further. This is why the Steelers need to be sure Dart is the guy to lead this team, because if not, then they could find themselves in an endless quarterback carousel. 

"Kenny Pickett probably should've gone second or third-round and I think Jaxson Dart is a second-round pick," said Wilson. "If you take him at 21, everything else better be in place to help him."

Steelers Should Avoid Drafting Dart In First Round 

Having the right guy at quarterback is critical in this league, but at what cost? The Steelers need to resolve their quarterback situation one way or another, but it should not be at the expense of a first-round pick in a shallow quarterback class. Pittsburgh could always trade back into the second round or wait until their third-round pick to select a quarterback. 

This would leave the opportunity to address other needs, such as drafting defensive tackle Derrick Harmon, and if whoever the starting quarterback is for the 2025 season doesn't pan out, at least you would get another shot next year with a potentially deeper quarterback class. 

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