The Steelers’ quarterback situation remains unresolved for 2025. Even if a deal can be struck with Aaron Rodgers, though, a long-term investment at the position could be made as early as this year’s draft. 
Owner Art Rooney II has indicated Pittsburgh will look to make a high draft investment at the position in 2025 or ’26. The team’s first opportunity will come on Day 1 of next month’s event, one in which the Steelers hold the No. 21 pick. That leaves them out of range for Cam Ward and (likely) Shedeur Sanders, but several other options will be available by that point in the order.
[RELATED: Steelers Among Teams Interested In Sanders]
Among those is Jaxson Dart, and The Athletic’s Mike DeFabo reports he will conduct a top-30 visit with Pittsburgh in April (subscription required). The USC transfer spent the past three seasons at Ole Miss, improving in a number of passing categories every year along the way. Dart’s 2024 campaign saw him average 329 passing yards per game while posting a 29:6 touchdown-to-interception ratio.
While Dart racked up 495 yards and three scores on the ground last season, his success in the deep passing game has been key in helping his draft stock. Whereas Ward and Sanders have long been viewed as first-rounder, questions linger about how many (if any) other passers will be selected on Day 1. Dart (who, like other Rebels signal-callers, faces concerns about his ability to translate his production to the NFL game) has gained steam in that regard over the past few weeks, however, and the Browns – set to draft second overall – have hosted him for a private workout.
It would come as a surprise if Dart were to taken by Cleveland at this point, but the interest surrounding him could include a push on the part of the Steelers to acquire him. Pittsburgh has been searching for a long-term Ben Roethlisberger successor since his 2022 retirement, a process which included making Kenny Pickett the top QB selected in 2022 (20th overall). That did not yield the desired results, and he has already been traded twice in his young career. Veteran Mason Rudolph is back in the organization, although he made only 13 starts during his first Pittsburgh stint and is best suited as a veteran QB2.
Rodgers’ Steelers visit has not produced a deal yet, though nothing has been ruled out on that front by either party. As Pittsburgh looks to secure the 41-year-old’s services for at least the 2025 campaign, work on an eventual replacement for him (or a different starter, if one becomes necessary) will continue.
Out of all the qbs in the draft I think he will be the most successful. I think mediocre first year but will blossom into a franchise qb if he gets drafted by the Steelers
If he gets to 21 it means many QB needy teams disagreed.
Dart would be a great get for them.
Idk man . He seems kinda small for a pocket qb. Is the arm strength even there?
I agree with the people saying this looks like another Kenny Pickett situation
Not a fan of any of the QBs in this class overall. Looks like a lot of career backups to me.
Only one I like is Will Howard, but only because it’d prob be round 5 or 6 flyer on a big athletic guy who has to sit for a couple years
Even Cam Ward is a guy who goes around 10 or so in a normal class
So, they are going to sign a locker room cancer AND waste a first round pick all because they were too cheap to make Fields a decent offer?
Browns like offseason.
Rodgers even now is better than Fields by a fair margin. And Dart would be a very solid choice to be QB of the future. He could sit an entire year and learn and not have a ton of pressure on him. You’re spinning this into an extreme negative but I think it’s a solid path forward.
“Very solid choice” or good enough to beat Allen, Jackson and Mahomes?
I’ve seen Dart make two throws (neither of which was even close to his target) but if he falls to them at #21 that means 20 chances to nab a “franchise QB” came and went and teams said “nah, let the Steelers have him.” Just like Kenny?
I maintain if a QB isn’t worth taking in the top 10 or 12, he’s unlikely to be the guy. And at that point, you’ve passed on taking a 1st round D line guy you really need to desperately reach for a QB. The problem keeps compounding.
Regarding Rodgers vs. Fields…the Steelers had an offer on the table to Fields for weeks. He was their first choice.
So, rather than pay enough for their first choice, they are going to end up paying more for their second choice (while risking the locker room) and possibly turn what should be a lay up draft into a hail mary draft.
kind of funny you say that as the best qb in the division was barely a first rounder and the top option the steelers are going for is a qb that was drafted in the 20’s and actually the QB drafted number one in each of their respective drafts have never made it to the superbowl let alone won it. Even the QB the steelers had last year (also a superbowl qb btw) was not even a 1st round pick.
Also outside of the rams …. the nfc superbowl qbs the last few years have all been outside the first round. Including a pretty much sure fire hall of famer QB in Tom Brady.
“I’ve seen Dart make two throws (neither of which was even close to his target)” so I take it that you don’t watch college football. You could’ve just said that. There’s more to Dart’s tape than just him widely missing those 2 throws.
Is there enough to his tape for an NFL team to make him a top 10 pick in a year with a weak QB crop?
If not, why?
If so, why would he still be there?
What makes him a better bet than, say, Milroe who might be there in the 3rd?
There’s not and a few months ago they were saying none of these QBs were worthy of a first round grade (they still aren’t). The Steelers shouldn’t think about a QB until the 5th or later with the expectation they take a QB in next years draft when it’s a much stronger crop
““Very solid choice” or good enough to beat Allen, Jackson and Mahomes?”
I mean, who knows? Is any QB in this league good enough for that?
“I maintain if a QB isn’t worth taking in the top 10 or 12, he’s unlikely to be the guy”
You literally just cited Lamar Jackson as an elite QB. Please look up when he was drafted. Look up when Super Bowl champ Hurts was drafted. Even Mahomes and Roethlisberger just barely fit your criteria. Brady, Russell Wilson, even Nick Foles. Super Bowl winning QBs not drafted in the top 10-12.
“So, rather than pay enough for their first choice,”
Is Justin Fields “good enough to beat Allen, Jackson and Mahomes”? Which appears to be your criteria for a good QB move?
Face facts: Rodgers is better than Fields. He might end up even being cheaper than Fields. *And* you can still draft and develop a QB. I don’t see how this is a worse situation than overpaying for Fields and drafting who knows what.
Dont forget to point out that he would rather have Josh Rosen drafted number 10 instead of Lamar at 32 in the same draft. Josh was the future of the cardinals…. oh wait he lasted a season and basically never heard from again.
You make some good points rct
I’m still shocked at how good Hurts turned out
Maybe there’s hope for Milroe after all.
Lamar Jackson was a boom or bust project who couldn’t throw NFL caliber balls. Good on the Ravens for taking the chance on him and developing him.
But, that’s why I’d take Fields over the other options. Jackson shows what can happen when you chase upside and ceiling and take the time and put in the work to develop it.
Fields isn’t as good, obviously, but his raw skills are as close to the elite guys as anyone else’s.
If the Steelers draft Dart in the first and he bombs after using a first on Pickett, they will be set so far back. They have other holes to fill, too.
Sign Rodgers because it’s all they have at this point, whatever, but don’t reach for a QB with a pick that could be the next Cam Heyward in a deep DL draft.
This is going to be Pickett 2.0
Im starting to worry that Rodgers just retires .
He holds the all-time record for career QB-Rating (something he’s sure to blow if he comes back and plays in 2025)
You’d think he’d want to get a little over 1,000 yards to pass Rivers and Roethlisberger tho.
Also only needs 6 TDs to pass Favre , something seemingly very important to him
I think he’ll play, but Steelers aren’t in any position to give him any sort of ultimatum , and honestly should be ready for this guy to drag this deep into camp.
Steelers can give him around 32 million this year no problem. But I feel like he’s trying to cash in on a 2-year deal , and anything more than 10 mil in guarantees for 2026 is problematic. (Knowing there’s like 1% chance of him playing a 2nd year)
Aaron loves being in control and while he could sign next week, there’s also a decent chance he has no intention of signing anywhere until after the draft
Color me skeptical of the “I didn’t notice her at first, but she’s starting to grow on me (now that I can’t find anyone else)” prospect.
Serious 2 am at the bar energy.