The first wave of free agency has passed, and the Pittsburgh Steelers are still uncertain about who their starting quarterback will be. They brought back Mason Rudolph on a two-year, $8 million deal, but they’ll likely add another option in the 2025 NFL Draft-and possibly another veteran free agent.
ESPN’s Jordan Reid expects Pittsburgh to pursue a big-name prospect at No. 21 but doesn’t rule out the team waiting until Day 2 to draft a quarterback.
3 QBs in Play for Steelers in 2025 NFL Draft
Since Ben Roethlisberger retired after the 2021 season, the Steelers have cycled through five quarterbacks searching for a long-term starter. None have secured the role, despite the team posting a winning record every season and making the playoffs the last two years.
Aaron Rodgers remains a free agent and has been linked to Pittsburgh since the offseason began. The team could sign the 20-year veteran and still draft a quarterback early, according to Reid. The ESPN analyst believes Pittsburgh has narrowed its QB draft board to three names.
ESPN draft analyst Jordan Reid thinks Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart “could be in play” for the Steelers at the 21st overall pick. Says, however, Pittsburgh could wait until the third round and select someone like Tyler Shough or Jalen Milroe. #Steelers #NFL
— Steelers Depot 7⃣ (@Steelersdepot) March 16, 2025
Steelers Depot tweeted about Reid’s thoughts:
“ESPN draft analyst Jordan Reid thinks Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart ‘could be in play’ for the Steelers at the 21st overall pick. Says, however, Pittsburgh could wait until the third round and select someone like Tyler Shough or Jalen Milroe.”
Jaxson Dart
Reid’s first option for Pittsburgh is Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart, who has settled in as QB3 in this year’s draft class. Dart has improved his completion percentage, passing yards, and touchdowns in each of his three seasons at Ole Miss. In 2024, he posted 4,279 yards and 29 touchdowns while completing 69.3% of his passes.
Dart has the physical tools to be a quality NFL quarterback, but his mental processing, decision-making, and communication in a pro-style offense remain untested. At Ole Miss, Dart played in a high-tempo offense that ran a play every 22 seconds on average, which minimized his responsibilities at the line of scrimmage. He’ll need to prove he can operate in an NFL-style system.
With Rudolph back in the mix, Pittsburgh could allow Dart to develop without starting immediately. He’s projected as an early second-round pick in PFSN’s latest seven-round mock draft, going No. 42 overall to the New York Jets. His college production may not typically warrant a second-round selection, but given the lack of depth in this year’s QB class, Pittsburgh may have to take him earlier than expected.
Tyler Shough
Reid’s next option for the Steelers is Louisville quarterback Tyler Shough, who spent seven years in college, playing for three different schools. Shough backed up Justin Herbert at Oregon before transferring to Texas Tech, where injuries plagued his tenure. He then landed at Louisville in 2024, starting all 12 regular-season games for the first time in his career.
Last season, Shough threw for 3,195 yards, 23 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions, leading the Cardinals to an 8-4 record. He might be considered in the same tier as Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders, given his arm strength, accuracy, and mechanics, but his age (25) is expected to push him down draft boards.
That could actually benefit Pittsburgh, as they could wait until Day 2 to draft a quarterback, just as Reid suggests. PFSN projects Shough as a late third-round pick in its latest seven-round mock, going to the New Orleans Saints at No. 93.
Jalen Milroe
Reid’s final option is Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe, who is the most explosive athlete in this year’s quarterback class. His 2024 passing numbers were modest, throwing for 2,844 yards, 16 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions, but his real value comes as a rusher. Last season, he ran for 726 yards and 20 touchdowns on 168 carries.
From a purely physical standpoint, Milroe might be the most gifted quarterback in the 2025 NFL Draft. However, his passing ability needs work. He’s raw as a processor and struggles with accuracy due to inconsistent mechanics. His decision-making in the pocket is another concern, as is his ball security.
Milroe ultimately has a first-round skill set with fifth-round tape and likely won’t hear his name called until the third round. He’s projected as the 82nd-overall pick in PFSN’s latest seven-round mock draft, going to the Seattle Seahawks.
Pittsburgh could be a good landing spot for Milroe, where he could develop as a passer while Rudolph takes snaps in the short term.