Steelers Are Encouraged To Take A Reach In The First Round Of The 2025 NFL Draft

The Pittsburgh Steelers are getting some important pro day visits in before the draft process really ramps up. They managed to fill a couple of needs in free agency, including executing a big deal to trade for DK Metcalf and sign him to a 4-year extension. There are still numerous questions for the front office, like who will be their big A-gap stuffer on the defensive line, as well as their short- and long-term plans for the quarterback position? Even in a supposed weak draft class, they may have their eyes on someone. 

While making an appearance on The Rich Eisen Show, draft analyst Mike Mayock was asked about the rising stock of Tyler Shough, as he has been flying up draft boards since the NFL Combine. Mayock spoke about the needs for quarterbacks around the league, which could lead to the Steelers looking at him at pick 21.

"Same thing for Pittsburgh at 21: if you want to get Tyler Shough in the second round, don't sit there and wait for him. Go get him," explained Mayock. "Bottomline is that there are only 32 starting quarterback positions in the league and not enough starting quarterbacks. That's why I give Denver so much credit last year with Bo Nix. They didn't care about the noise; they didn't care that he didn't have a great combine performance. They figured out by the end of the process that was their guy, and they took him."

Even if the Steelers sign Aaron Rodgers like they are expected to, they still need someone to lean on long-term. Shough is not seen as a first-round talent by most analysts, but who knows what happens between now and the NFL Draft? Maybe by then, he flies up drat boards even more and goes higher than anyone previously anticipated. Sports bettors everywhere are using sites like 888Starz to take their best shot at guessing all possible outcomes.

Mayock compared the situation to the 2024 Denver Broncos, as they reached on a quarterback at pick 12, as Bo Nix was expected to be a second-round option, as opposed to a top 15 pick. They ended up making their first playoff appearance in nine years partially because they had a passer that head coach Sean Payton had full faith in.

It's no secret that Head Coach Mike Tomlin loves veteran quarterbacks, which is why he is all in on Rodgers. While many teams would see Shough's age as a negative, he might see it as a positive. He has seen more and done more than any other NFL prospect. Nix was 24 in his rookie year, so Shough is not much older, even if he is very old for someone that has yet to even be drafted yet. 

Steelers Should Exercise Caution With Shough

Even with his rising draft stock, Shough would be considered a massive reach at pick 21 at this point. He had a great combine, although that does not always translate to the NFL game. There are many factors that go into evaluating quarterbacks. Experience and combine drills may impress Tomlin, but that's not enough to use a first-round pick on a guy. 

There are questions with guys like Shough about if they developed as an NFL quarterback or if they just figured out basic college defenses. The Steelers made that mistake in 2022 by drafting Kenny Pickett, a fifth-year senior who had one great year at the college level. Shough may need some time to develop, and he might be too old to be granted that much time. 

Of course, the Steelers don't even have a second-round pick in 2025 due to the Metcalf trade. That could influence their decision as well, whether it's to trade down and pick up another selection or take that risk. Defensive tackle could easily be filled in the first round, but would they bypass that to select Bo Nix 2.0 early on?

What do you think about Shough being a first-round candidate for the Steelers? Let us know in the comments or on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.

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