Steelers Continue To Face Crucial Draft Dilemma: "It's A Tough Year To Be Hunting For A Franchise QB"

The Pittsburgh Steelers are in full swing preparing for the highly anticipated 2025 NFL Draft, an event that provides every team the opportunity to add fresh, young talent and strengthen their roster. Adding to an eventful offseason in Pittsburgh, it has been marked by both impactful new acquisitions and notable player departures. The upcoming NFL Draft has generated considerable excitement across the league and among Steelers fans eager to see the direction the team will take. Numerous individuals, ranging from casual fans to prominent NFL insiders and analysts, are offering their predictions for the upcoming draft.

One of these individuals is Diana Russini, a senior NFL insider for The Athletic, who recently published an article offering insights into potential scenarios for this year's NFL Draft. In her analysis, Russini specifically mentioned the Steelers and the widely discussed quarterback situation.

"It's a tough year to be hunting for a franchise QB, which makes the situations in places like New Orleans [Saints] and Pittsburgh — both of which want to add a quarterback this draft — very interesting," Russini wrote. 

The Steelers' need for a starting quarterback is well-known, and veteran Aaron Rodgers is widely considered their primary target to fill that void. Having reportedly already extending an offer to Rodgers, the Steelers are currently in a protracted waiting period for his decision. However, with the NFL Draft quickly approaching, the compelling opportunity to secure their long-term franchise quarterback is a prospect the Steelers cannot overlook.

Russini's observation could understandably cause concern among Steelers fans, particularly given the team's apparent effort in scouting multiple quarterback prospects throughout the pre-draft process. The Steelers have been actively present at various Pro Days, and have also hosted several quarterback prospects for visits to their team facility. Notably, the Steelers have been publicly linked to players such as Shedeur Sanders and Jaxson Dart, and Jalen Milroe.

Whether Rodgers ultimately signs with the Steelers or chooses another path, reports indicate that the Steelers have only presented him with a one-year contract. At 41 years old, Rodgers holds the distinction of being the oldest active player in the National Football League. This short-term offer likely reflects the Steelers' reported intention to focus on the NFL Draft, either this year or in the subsequent year, as their primary avenue for finding their next long-term franchise quarterback. Therefore, regardless of Rodgers' final decision, the Steelers are undoubtedly paying close attention to the available quarterback prospects in the upcoming draft.

It's also crucial to consider that the Steelers possess a significantly lower draft position compared to the New Orleans Saints, the other team Russini mentioned in her earlier comment. The Saints currently hold the 9th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, while the Steelers' first selection doesn't occur until the 21st pick. Interestingly, both the Saints and the Steelers appear to be within a potential drafting range for a highly-touted prospect like Sanders, making the dynamics of this year's draft particularly interesting.

The quarterback frenzy in last year's draft, with six of them selected within the first 12 picks, created a fascinating dynamic that few anticipated, even considering it was widely regarded as a strong quarterback class. This concentration of quarterback talent at the top of the 2024 draft naturally casts the current quarterback class in a somewhat less impressive light by comparison.

The Steelers' Draft Capital Greatly Affects Their Strategy

The Steelers face an additional layer of complexity in their draft strategy due to the lack of a second-round pick this year. This valuable selection was traded away to acquire veteran wide receiver DK Metcalf. While Metcalf undeniably strengthens the Steelers' receiving options, the lack of a second-round pick is a notable constraint. The second round often presents opportunities to acquire high-caliber talent, including players who might have been considered first-round prospects under different team needs and positional priorities across the league.

Reports also suggest the Steelers are considering maneuvering back into the second round of the draft, a move that would likely necessitate trading either current players or, more likely, some of their draft capital -- potentially involving their later first-round selection. It will be particularly interesting to see which players and positions the Steelers ultimately prioritize and how these new additions contribute to the long-term strength and development of their roster.

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