The Pittsburgh Steelers are heading into the NFL Draft with a key question still looming: who will be their starting quarterback in 2025?
While there’s ongoing speculation linking the team to Aaron Rodgers in free agency, it remains unclear whether the future Hall of Famer will sign with Pittsburgh.
Needless to say, many Steelers fans have grown sick and tired of waiting on Rodgers to make a decision. However, he explained the delay during a fascinating interview on The Pat McAfee Show yesterday.
“I’m not stringing anybody along. I’m not holding anybody hostage,” Rodgers said. “I’ve been honest from the jump about where I was at mentally and some of the constraints I have in my life right now that warrant my attention.
“From the jump, I’m in a different phase of my life… I’m 41 years old. I’m in a serious relationship. I have off-the-field stuff going on that requires my attention.
“I have personal commitments I’ve made and not knowing what my career is going to look like after last year that are important to me. And I have a couple of people in my inner, inner circle that are really battling some personal stuff.
“So I have a lot of things that are taking my attention and have, really, since January that have taken my attention away from football. That’s where I’ve been focusing most of my attention.
“To make a commitment to a team is a big thing whether you’re a first-year player or a 20-year vet. And I had a lot of great conversations with a lot of teams. Not one of those was the Jets because that wasn’t a great conversation. But I’ve had some good conversations and I’ve been upfront with all of them.”
Even if Rodgers eventually signs with the Steelers, the fact of the matter is Mike Tomlin and company still need to find a long-term answer at the position.
If Pittsburgh is serious about finding their future franchise quarterback, they could be forced to use their first-round pick – No. 21 overall – on a signal-caller.
According to ESPN’s Ben Solak, three quarterbacks stand out as realistic options for the Steelers to consider with that selection: Shedeur Sanders, Jaxson Dart, and Tyler Shough.
“Of the three quarterbacks I consider reasonable picks at 21, Tyler Shough (Louisville) is the best stylistic fit for Arthur Smith’s offensive system,” Solak stated. “Jaxson Dart (Ole Miss) does have a wonderful go route/back-shoulder ball in his bag, which fits nicely with Metcalf and George Pickens’ play style at receiver.
“And Shedeur Sanders (Colorado) is simply the best prospect of the three. I can talk myself into – and out of – each selection, but I lean Sanders, even if the Steelers have to move in front of the Seahawks (No. 18) to secure him.”
Sanders, considered by some to be the second-best quarterback in the draft behind Cam Ward, is projected to go in the top ten, potentially making Pittsburgh’s decision more complicated.
Ward is expected to be the No. 1 overall pick by the Tennessee Titans. Dart and Shough, while seeing their draft stocks rise in recent months, may very well still be on the board at No. 21.
Another quarterback often linked to Tomlin and the Steelers is Alabama’s Jalen Milroe. However, most view him as a third-round talent.
Most people thought Rodgers would have made his mind up prior to the draft. While that still may be the case, there’s a chance we could enter day one still not knowing what his plans are.
If that’s the case, that would only complicate things further for the win-now Steelers.
What are your thoughts on the ongoing drama surrounding Rodgers? … With or without him, should the Steelers draft a quarterback at No. 21? (If so, who???)
