During his end-of-season news conference, coach Mike Tomlin said the Pittsburgh Steelers will evaluate every option at quarterback before charting a path forward. Over the last week, we’ve been going through the same process at The Athletic to give readers a sense of Pittsburgh’s options.
In Part I, we broke down the known commodities, Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. In Part II, we looked at the veteran QB market.
Today, it’s time to dive into this year’s rookie QB class with some help from our draft analysts, Dane Brugler and Nick Baumgardner. Over the next three months, players will move up and down draft boards as they compete in events like the Senior Bowl, Shrine Bowl and the NFL Scouting Combine. Let’s remember that last year, Michael Penix Jr. and Bo Nix were considered second- or third-round picks for most of the process before the Atlanta Falcons and Denver Broncos, respectively, drafted them in the top 12. So there’s certainly plenty of time for these rankings to change.
None of the QBs in this class is considered a can’t-miss prospect. Brugler has said that the top two QBs in this year’s class (Miami’s Cam Ward and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders) would be no better than QB5 on last year’s draft board. That’s partly why six quarterbacks were selected in the first round last season, as teams wanted to address the position early rather than relying on a polarizing 2025 class.
“This year’s quarterback class isn’t remotely close to last year’s,” Brugler wrote in his most recent mock draft. “I don’t know any evaluator who would dispute that. But ‘quarterback desperation’ is a real thing, and with very few options in free agency or the trade market, several teams will feel forced to reach or possibly even trade up into the top 10.”
GO DEEPER
2025 NFL Mock Draft: Predicting every pick of Rounds 1 and 2
Tier 1: Likely out of range, or would need to fall
Miami’s Cam Ward and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders
With the 21st pick in the NFL Draft, Steelers GM Omar Khan would probably need a very aggressive maneuver to jump into range for one of the top two quarterbacks. In Brugler’s most recent mock, he projected Ward to go first to the Tennessee Titans and Sanders sixth to the Las Vegas Raiders. The best hope of landing one of these passers is if Sanders falls a bit.
The skinny (from Dane Brugler):
On Ward: With his arm talent and elusiveness in the pocket, Ward is an exciting player who can keep plays alive and sling the ball to every inch of the field. The looseness in his game is a double-edged sword that allows him to improvise and create, but it also leads to turnover-worthy decisions and unnecessary sacks. That isn’t going to change overnight. Sign a veteran starter and allow the rookie to develop at his own pace without forcing him onto the field.
On Sanders: There is a lot to like about Sanders’ package of skills. He is poised, tough and accurate with a natural feel for touch and layering the football. But one of the main concerns is the inconsistent way he manages the pocket, drifting or welcoming negative plays by holding onto the football. (The blame for the number of sacks Sanders has taken at Colorado doesn’t entirely fall on the offensive line.) Sanders reminds me of Jordan Love, but without the high-end physical traits, because they both use athletic movements to skillfully access different throwing platforms. Sanders doesn’t have Love’s size or arm strength, however, which is a concern when playing that style of game. Nonetheless, Sanders’ ball placement and toughness will give him a chance to become an established NFL starter.
Shedeur Sanders’ first half tonight:
12 of 15, 254, 2 TD(2 of his 3 misses were on-target) pic.twitter.com/aVvw39RIcJ
— Nick Baumgardner (@nickbaumgardner) August 30, 2024
The case for: The Steelers are rarely, if ever, in position to land a top-flight quarterback in the draft. This polarizing class might present an opportunity if the rest of the league isn’t completely sold on Ward or Sanders. If one of these QBs happens to fall, perhaps the Steelers could make an uncharacteristically aggressive move to land their future. They would be wise to do their homework on both QBs just in case this opportunity presents itself, even if it’s not super likely.
The case against: To get a sense of what it would cost to get into the top 10, think back to the Devin Bush trade. The Steelers held a similar pick (No. 20) in the 2019 draft. To move up 10 spots, it took a second-round pick (No. 52) and a third-round pick the following season. Another comparison could be the compensation the Bears gave up for Justin Fields in 2021. To move from No. 20 to No. 11, Chicago gave up a fifth-rounder, plus a first and fourth the next year. That’s a lot of compensation for a lottery ticket that might never cash. And it could cost even more, because teams are typically more willing to give up capital to get a QB.
At the same time, if the Steelers want to seriously address the position, it might eventually require a big risk like this. Maybe that big move waits until next year, though, when there might be QBs with higher ceilings available.
Tier 2: Possible Round 1, early Day 2
Alabama’s Jalen Milroe
The skinny (from Brugler): The 6-foot-2, 225-pound Milroe might be the most fascinating evaluation in the 2025 draft. Some will immediately dismiss him as a legitimate quarterback prospect because of his inconsistencies as a passer — and I get it. His lack of precision and timing were major issues at times this season, most notably in Alabama’s losses. But he is also one of the best pure athletes in this draft class. His on-field GPS numbers reflect a 4.3 40, which is even more impressive considering his size.
Milroe has high-level arm strength with plenty of impressive throws on his tape, and NFL scouts speak highly about his intelligence and makeup. The NFL is a traits league, and Milroe has a rare package of skills that several teams will be willing to bet on somewhere in the top 50 picks.
Jalen Milroe on the duo read keeper is really not a very fair thing to do to people
NFL scouts continue to be intrigued by all the stuff Milroe has that cannot be taught. There’s a lot. pic.twitter.com/PFqCdjqH43
— Nick Baumgardner (@nickbaumgardner) November 10, 2024
The case for Milroe: When Tomlin was asked about the Steelers rarely being in range to land a top-flight quarterback in the draft, the coach pointed out that Lamar Jackson was selected late in the first round and that Jalen Hurts was picked in the second round. It’s interesting that he referenced Hurts. As Baumgardner wrote, Milroe’s “burst, explosion and speed give him the potential to be a souped-up version of Jalen Hurts.” It’s also interesting that assistant GM Andy Weidl set the draft board for Philadelphia in 2020 when the Eagles drafted Hurts. It seems he and Khan are working to build a run-first offense in a similar mold to Philadelphia’s. Drafting a QB like Milroe would only add to the parallels.
A move like this would make the most sense if the Steelers brought back Fields. In that way, they could lean into an offense that revolves around quarterback mobility. Milroe could sit and wait until the team either feels he’s ready or needs a spark. Of all the paths the Steelers could take at QB, this is the one I’m in favor of most. The Steelers could see if Fields is the long-term answer, while also planning for the future.
The case against Milroe: While there are plenty of late-first-round or Day 2 success stories, the Steelers are in this position because their own attempt failed. The Kenny Pickett selection (at No. 20 in 2022) should be a cautionary tale. Just because a team needs a QB doesn’t mean the answer is in the draft. That said, the difference is Milroe has tangible attributes that make him a possible first-round pick (like arm talent and elite speed), while Pickett was just a productive college QB without a ton of upside. Drafting Milroe could work only if the right plan is in place to develop him, something Tomlin has never done in his NFL career.
Tier 3: The best of the rest
Texas’ Quinn Ewers, Syracuse’s Kyle McCord, Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart, Louisville’s Tyler Shough
Baumgardner believes Ewers, McCord, Dart and Shough are all in contention to be QB4 in this year’s class. Other possibilities include Indiana’s Kurtis Rourke, Notre Dame’s Riley Leonard and Ohio State’s Will Howard. We’ll break down a couple of those options, which are likely to be considerations in the third round or later.
The skinny on Ewers (from Baumgardner): In some ways, Ewers is like the high school player who committed to your favorite college team as a freshman — and by the time he signs, everyone’s forgotten about him because he’s been around so long. The Texas QB was one of the first big-money NIL quarterbacks in college football and has been on NFL radars since his days as a five-star Ohio State signee. Strictly from an arm standpoint, Ewers — when right — can spin it with anybody in this class. And for all the criticisms he’s gotten during his two-plus years as Texas’ starter, it’s important to note how well he’s handled all the pressure that comes along with that. He’s a tough kid who’s grown into a leader.
Ewers has always had the arm talent and confidence. Now the game feels a fraction slower for him. pic.twitter.com/TA1Wzs8jR2
— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) September 8, 2024
However, for a guy who lacks ideal size and is not much of a run threat, Ewers hasn’t been consistent enough from a downfield accuracy standpoint — notably against any type of pressure — to merit first-round grades. He feels like a guy who’s stuck between a possible high-end backup (like Aidan O’Connell) or, perhaps, a less-than version of Bo Nix.
The skinny on McCord (from Baumgardner): McCord is pretty fascinating, as he left Ohio State for Syracuse this offseason, calling it a “business decision” after the Buckeyes wouldn’t promise him a starting spot. And while that’s understandable in today’s world of NIL, transferring instead of competing is certainly notable. McCord wasn’t bad during his time as Ohio State’s starter — he just wasn’t terrific, and when you’re throwing to Marvin Harrison Jr., every miss is magnified.
He got to throw it all over the yard this year, more than 45 attempts per game, in a wide-open Syracuse offense and continued to show off both NFL arm talent and an NFL frame. The biggest problem for McCord, as it was at Ohio State, is how he handles pressure in a regular five- or seven-step drop situation. His game has to be more like that of Jared Goff, where his accuracy needs to be near perfect and his release lightning fast. I like McCord’s potential quite a bit and think NFL teams will also, even if he’s viewed as more of an investment. The physical ability here is pretty undeniable, though, as he has a better arm than Will Howard — who replaced him at Ohio State.
The skinny on Dart (from Baumgardner): As was the case with former Ole Miss passer Matt Corral, it’s important not to get lost in the numbers with Dart because Lane Kiffin’s offense simply doesn’t offer many NFL translatable throws or situations. So while it’s impressive he was at .45 EPA per dropback this season with good accuracy and downfield numbers, it’s important to remember the context. Dart will have to show scouts an ability to operate from a pocket for longer than one read and that he can process more of a pro-style operation. There is a lot to like, though, as he’s 225 pounds with good feet and the ability to run a bit. He’s always been very aggressive, he throws an accurate ball and isn’t afraid to work the middle of the field. I don’t know if he’s a full-time NFL starter, though I wouldn’t rule it out either. Sort of like Ewers on the tweener scale there.
The skinny on Shough (from Baumgardner): Shough could be a bit of a wild card as a 25-year-old prospect who has seen a ton of football. A seven-year player, Shough began his career at Oregon in 2018 and left after the pandemic, only to spend three injury-filled years at Texas Tech. This past year with Jeff Brohm at Louisville was his first as a full-time starter, and there were serious flashes of a 6-foot-5, 240-pound athlete with enough wheels to run and a big-time arm with real explosion off his hand. He will be one of the more scouted prospects at the Senior Bowl.
The case for Ewers, McCord, Dart or Shough: Time for the obligatory: “Hey, Tom Brady was a sixth-round pick.” Drafting quarterbacks can be a bit of a crapshoot. If the Steelers use their early-round picks to round out the roster — especially on the defensive line, receiver and cornerback positions — it might be reasonable to take a mid- to late-round chance on a QB who falls. For this pick to pay off, the Steelers must be OK with this prospect taking plenty of time to develop. They also have to prepare for the likely event that a QB in this range might never ascend into a starting role.
The case against Ewers, McCord, Dart or Shough: Steelers OC Arthur Smith lost his job as Atlanta’s head coach, in part, because third-round pick Desmond Ridder wasn’t the answer. The QB went 2-2 as a rookie in relief of Marcus Mariota in 2022 and then amid a 6-7 start to the season in 2023, Smith benched Ridder. Maybe if the Steelers draft a QB in the mid-to-late rounds, they can develop him. But thinking that any QB from this tier can be the answer in 2025 (or even 2026) would be a massive gamble. Let’s not forget that 2018 third-round pick Mason Rudolph and 2013 fourth-round pick Landry Jones were never the answer. A shiny, new Landry Jones doesn’t sound like a great use of draft capital for a team that needs to address plenty of other positions.
(Photos of Shedeur Sanders, left, and Jalen Milroe: Brian Bahr, Ed Zurga / Getty Images)
