The Pittsburgh Steelers have the most interesting quarterback situation in the league. There is no clear answer at the position for Pittsburgh as the organization has been waiting for a decision from Aaron Rodgers since the first week of free agency. The veteran has been taking his time making his mind up on his future, and as each day goes by, the chances of him signing seem to worsen. The Steelers are also in a tough spot as they sit with the 21st overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft, as it is not a guarantee that one of the top three quarterback prospects will fall to them.
AP photo
Former Green Bay Packers and New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers during a round of golf.
Pittsburgh has been searching for consistency at quarterback, and the organization has not been able to find it in recent years. The franchise is completely turning over the position group for the second season in a row, and the current quarterbacks under contract are Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson. Rudolph would be the starter if the season started today, and that is something the organization is content with according to trusted NFL insider Adam Schefter, which he shared on Get Up Thursday morning.
"I believe they are prepared to go into the season with Mason Rudolph as their quarterback, and the fact that Aaron Rodgers hasn't committed and may not commit by the time the draft occurs, is not going to make them more aggressive in terms of trading up in the first round," Schefter explained. "I think they're gonna stay right where they are. If anything, the Steelers are more inclined to move back off 21 to pick up the extra pick they lost in trading for DK Metcalf."
The Steelers are an absolute wild card in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. The organization could be in position to draft either Shedeur Sanders or Jaxson Dart, while trading back also seems to be in the cards. Pittsburgh is also in a perfect spot to address a need on the defensive line, or add another weapon to the arsenal on offense.
Gene J. Puskar / ap photo
Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph waves as he walks off the field after the Cincinnati Bengals game, Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023, in Pittsburgh, PA.
Pittsburgh being content with Rudolph beginning the 2025 season as the starter is troubling to say the least. The quarterback was the hero of the 2023 season for the Steelers as he led the team to three consecutive wins which pumped its ticket to the postseason, but he should not be relied upon to start 17 games in 2025.
Rudolph signed with the Tennessee Titans ahead of the 2024 season, and things did not go well for him in Nashville. He was surrounded by a much worse roster, but he threw nine touchdowns and nine interceptions in eight games. He had some success in Pittsburgh, but he wasn't able to replicate that in Tennessee. Pittsburgh is now running a different offensive system than it was in 2023, and it would be ludicrous for the organization to expect Rudolph to play like he did when he was last in the Steel City.
Steelers More Likely To Trade Down
The Steelers could make a move by trading up for a quarterback in the 2025 NFL Draft, but Schefter does not believe the organization is desperate enough to do so. This also speaks to how weak the quarterback class is in the upcoming draft, and the fact that the players who are projected to go later in the event are not that far off from Dart or Sanders.
Troy Taormina / Stephanie Amador Blondet / Imagn Images
Both Shedeur Sanders and Jaxson Dart are considered to be first-round picks in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Pittsburgh gave up a second-round pick in exchange for DK Metcalf, and the organization could look to trade back in order to recoup that pick and then some. The franchise has weaknesses all over the roster, and gathering additional draft capital could only help the team address every need. A quarterback could still be a possibility for Pittsburgh later in the event.
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