The Steelers’ current quarterback limbo with Aaron Rodgers leaves the team without a bona fide starter at the most important position on offense. Combine that with the lack of a younger quarterback on the roster who projects to have a higher ceiling than just being a backup, and the need for drafting a QB is present for Omar Khan and Mike Tomlin.
If the Steelers wanted to take their next real shot at a franchise quarterback, the opportunities to do so will be slim. There are only two quarterbacks who project to really be worth a first-round pick in this draft class, and only one of them projects to be worthy of a top-10 pick.
Because of that, the Steelers could run into another Kenny Pickett situation where they pick high at quarterback in a draft class that’s not heralded for having many who are expected to play at that caliber in the NFL.
With the limited top-tier quarterback talent in this draft class, the sweet spot for finding one in this draft class might be the middle rounds between late Day 2 and early Day 3 prospects. Multiple quarterbacks in this class flash either experience or raw talent in a way that make them interesting prospects with the potential upside of developing into a starter.
The Steelers may still need a QB1 on their roster, but they could also benefit from a young quarterback who can develop as a backup in their system and fill-in whenever needed.
Here's the quarterback draft class broken into tiers as it relates to the Steelers:
TRADE UP NEEDED
1. Cam Ward (Miami, Sr., 6-2, 223 pounds)
If this were a deeper quarterback draft class, Ward would be an intriguing prospect who would probably round out as a pick at the bottom of the top 10 selections. But in this class, he’s the clear best prospect at his position. His combination of arm strength, talent, and ability to process the field makes him the most complete prospect. His film shows great reads, but also a willingness to take risks. He gets himself in trouble at times, but he also shows the ability to back up his risk-taking with elite-level throws.
Carter's critique: Too expensive
Because he’s the best quarterback in this draft class, Ward should be expected to either be the top pick or not fall farther than third overall. If the Steelers wanted to move up to get him, it would take a great deal of draft compensation to pull it off. If this were a deeper quarterback class with more prospects of Ward’s caliber, a trade up to get inside the top 10 picks would be more reasonable.
2. Shedeur Sanders (Colorado, Sr., 6-1, 212 pounds)
Sanders’ fundamentals as a passer make him a precise quarterback. When he has a clean pocket and knows where to go with the ball, he often hits his mark. He lacks prototypical NFL arm strength but makes up for it with good accuracy and game management. His experience as a player has helped him develop as a decision-maker over the years.
Carter's critique: Too expensive
Sanders is a wild card when it comes to where he projects to be selected. He could reasonably be a top-10 pick if teams are desperate to find a franchise quarterback, but his limited arm strength and less-than-impressive mobility would make a move to pick him inside the top 10 a reach. Sanders also shares a Kenny Pickett-like tendency to hold on to the ball too long and attempt to spin out of the pocket as his primary method to buy more time. If he did fall to the Steelers at 21, it would be a similar risk to take him there.
BEST EARLY OPTIONS
3. Jaxson Dart (Mississippi, Sr., 6-2, 223 pounds)
Dart had an impressive senior year to boost his profile, which has raised his profile from being a Day 3 quarterback to a potential first-round pick. He possesses NFL quarterback skills but has lacked the consistency to show he could reliably apply those tools. He’s shown the ability to work through his progressions but struggles to process varying defenses and can be inconsistent in his accuracy due to his lack of clean fundamentals as a passer, from footwork to arm movement.
Carter's critique: Day 2 prospect
Several NFL draft experts have given their mocks and see the Steelers taking Dart with their first-round pick. It’s difficult to see the Steelers making such a move with the series of projects that it would take to develop Dart into a starting quarterback in the NFL and the other more legitimate first-round prospects at other positions of need who will be available at 21. If the Steelers landed Dart later, it would make sense. But picking him in the first would feel like a reach on a project quarterback.
4. Jalen Milroe (Alabama, RS Jr., 6-2. 217 pounds)
If there’s a mobile quarterback to be had in this draft, it’s Milroe. The Steelers had a private dinner with him the night before his pro day this week, and then saw in-person when he ran a 4.37-time in the 40-yard dash. Milroe is one of the more raw quarterback prospects of this class, but his athleticism is undeniable. He has a long way to go when it comes to processing the field and developing consistent fundamentals as a passer, but he does have NFL arm strength. Bottom line for him is that he excelled for Alabama against lesser talent but faded in SEC play.
Carter’s critique: Day 2-3 prospect
Milroe’s a project who would make sense for the Steelers to add to their roster if it were for a lower cost than a first- or second-round pick. The sweet spot to get him would be the fourth round, but his athleticism may force teams to jump up to the third round to acquire him. If the Steelers wanted to replace the mobility Justin Fields brought to the roster, Milroe could be a young, inexpensive option who the team could mold and develop on their own over the next few years into either a starter or the preferred backup behind a quarterback the Steelers target in next year’s more heralded projection of a quarterback class.
STASH AND DEVELOP
5. Will Howard (Ohio State, Sr., 6-4, 236 pounds)
The national championship run by the Buckeyes did a lot for Howard’s resume, especially because of some of the big throws he made down the stretch against the country’s top talent. He has ideal size, showed solid growth as a player last season and shows some of the most impressive pocket presence of this class. His ability to manage the pocket and stay locked into a concept provided Ohio State with a quarterback who could buy their top-tier receiver talent time to get open and make plays.
Carter’s critique: Ideal Day 3 prospect
Howard’s skill set looks like an ideal mix of a quarterback who can be a solid backup with the potential to grow into a starter if things lined up in his career. He still has a long way to go, but he resembles some of the pocket passing characteristics of Mason Rudolph from the 2018 draft. While his run in the College Football Playoff was impressive, his overall tape shows issues with his processing of the field. But if he could spend a couple years as a backup, that would give Howard time to improve that aspect of his game.
6. Tyler Shough (Louisville, RS Sr., 6-5, 219 pounds)
Shough is the oldest quarterback of this class at 26 years old. While that comes with age, injuries and questions about his longevity, it also comes with years of experience and development. He shows a veteran-like ability to manipulate defenses with his eyes in how he processes the field. But he also doesn’t do that at a consistent level, nor does he have an impressively strong arm or standout athleticism.
Carter’s critique: Early Day 3 prospect
Some draft experts see Shough as a Day 2 prospect, but I think with his skill and age, he’s a better fit in the fourth round than the third. He displays some impressive moments that reflect his experience and mental growth at quarterback, but they don’t outweigh the holes in his game. With his size and experience, we could see him as a viable option and quickly become a decent backup quarterback in the NFL.
7. Quinn Ewers (Texas, RS Jr., 6-2, 214 pounds)
Had Ewers come out last year, his profile would’ve looked a lot better than it does now. His completion percentage dropped significantly, he doubled his interceptions and didn’t look like the potential NFL star that he did going into 2024. Much of that is because his decision-making was exposed in outings against better SEC teams like Georgia. He also doesn’t have the elite arm strength or athleticism to make up for those issues.
Carter’s critique: Mid-Day 3 prospect
Ewers projects as a potentially good backup with his ability to play to a system. There’s plenty of examples that when he locks in, understands what he’s seeing and doesn’t deal with unreasonable pressure, he has a quick release and can hit targets in stride. That could be a good factor teams want to let marinate on their bench for some time as he gets acclimated to the NFL.
TAKE A FLYER
8. Riley Leonard (Notre Dame, Sr., 6-4, 216 pounds)
While Leonard isn’t one of the better pure passers in this class, he might have the best combination of decision-making as a passer and athleticism as a runner. He only threw eight interceptions on the season with a combined 38 passing and rushing touchdowns. He’s not an aggressive quarterback and struggles when he tries to do too much, but when he has multiple underneath options and space to run, he’s dangerous.
Carter’s critique: Mid-Day 3 prospect
Some experts project Leonard as a quarterback who could go late on Day 2 of the draft. What he lacks as a pure passer could set him back in this class compared to others who are better downfield throwers. However, the Steelers might see his willingness to run and the profile of a quarterback who protects the football from turnovers as a positive, and he could bring a change of pace with his dual-threat ability.
9. Kyle McCord (Syracuse, Sr., 6-3, 218 pounds)
McCord might be the best fit for the archetype of a gunslinger in this draft class. His 34 touchdowns were impressive in his second season as a starter, and plenty of his best passes came from his willingness to take big shots. He trusts his receivers to make plays and puts good velocity on the deep ball. But he also can trust receivers too much and force ill-advised passes. Pittsburgh saw that firsthand when he threw three interceptions that were returned for touchdowns in Acrisure Stadium when Pitt beat Syracuse 41-13 on Oct. 24.
Carter’s critique: Mid-Day 3 prospect
The Steelers’ penchant for grabbing quarterbacks who protect the football suggests they might not look as hard at McCord on draft day. Granted, the offense could limit how often McCord take shots when he’s on the field and minimize that aspect of his game. But McCord represents one of the best options for the Steelers as a potential fifth-round pick. He has toughness and a willingness to take a shot, which might be what the Steelers want to work on with him as a backup.
FUTURE BACKUPS
10. Kurtis Rourke (Indiana, RS Sr., 6-4, 220 pounds)
After playing five years as a starter, Rourke boasts solid experience and decent decision-making. He’s demonstrated the ability to be poised in the pocket and work through his progressions. He’s not a surgeon when it comes to reading defenses, but he has plenty of tape of him working through the levels of defenses to find the right target at the right time. He lacks big-time arm strength but had enough to be effective in college.
Carter’s critique: Mid-Day 3 prospect
If the Steelers want a solid pocket passer who will play to their system, Rourke would be a relatively inexpensive option to bring to their backfield. He won’t take more than a fifth-round pick and could develop into a player who comes into the game in a pinch or serve as a temporary starter to replace an injured star.
11. Max Brosmer (Minnesota, Grad., 6-2, 225 pounds)
When things were on schedule, Brosmer was a solid college quarterback. His ability to read defenses and work through his progressions had several positive demonstratons in college. But he also shows several instances when he struggled to deal with the blitz and those progressions start to fade.
Carter’s critique: Late Day 3 pick
If the Steelers were unable to nab a quarterback in the fourth or fifth round, Brosmer could be their guy to draft with the potential of being a system backup quarterback for some years.
12. Dillon Gabriel (Oregon, Sr., 5-11, 205 pounds)
The smallest of the quarterback prospects in this class — but also one of the more experienced. In five of his six years in college football, he’s thrown more than 300 passes with UCF, Oklahoma and Oregon. He also had the same touchdown-to-interception ration of 30-6 in each of his final two seasons. But his size and skill set suggest he would have a long way to grow to be productive in the NFL.
Carter’s critique: Late Day 3 pick
Gabriel’s a tricky quarterback to classify, as he has a lot of experience and isn’t a raw player, but he doesn’t have the tools to be a top-tier playmaker, either. He’d be a project without the upside of being a major playmaker, unless someone unearthed better downfield passing as a strength in his game.
First Published: March 23, 2025, 8:00 a.m.
Updated: March 24, 2025, 1:14 p.m.
