Pro Football Hall of Famer Rod Woodson believes the Pittsburgh Steelers made a critical mistake at the 2025 NFL Draft. The franchise legend recently appeared on “The Rich Eisen Show” and critiqued Pittsburgh’s decision to pass on Jaxson Dart, who has since emerged as an exciting young quarterback with the New York Giants.
Jaxson Dart’s Rookie Season Validates Rod Woodson’s Frustration
Woodson, who spent 10 seasons in Pittsburgh and won a Super Bowl with the Baltimore Ravens, didn’t hold back when discussing the organization’s quarterback woes.
“Last year, Rich, they should have took Jaxson Dart, he fell to them,” Woodson said. “It was the best opportunity for them to take a quarterback who has that swag, that can kind of fit into that Steeler mold and that Steeler culture and have that standard. And they took defensive end, or defensive tackle, excuse me… and now what are they looking for? They’re looking for the quarterback of the future still.”
Pittsburgh selected Oregon defensive tackle Derrick Harmon with the 21st overall pick, while Dart was drafted by the Giants with the 25th overall pick.
The numbers back up Woodson’s criticism. Dart took over the starting job in Week 4 and never looked back, finishing his rookie campaign with 2,272 passing yards, 15 passing touchdowns, and only five interceptions. According to PFSN’s Quarterback Impact Metric, the Giants star was ranked 18th in the league last season with an impact score of 76.5.
Combining his passing and rushing scores, Dart accounted for 24 total touchdowns in just 12 starts, the most among first-year players. His nine rushing touchdowns are the most in a single season for a quarterback in Giants franchise history and the third-most rushing touchdowns by a rookie QB in NFL history, trailing only Cam Newton (14) and Billy Kilmer (10).
Harmon, on the other hand, dealt with injuries as a rookie but made an impact in the 12 games he played, proving to be an anchor in run defense while recording three sacks. The selection addressed a legitimate need after the Steelers surrendered 299 rushing yards in their Wild Card loss to the Baltimore Ravens in January 2025.
But as Woodson pointed out, the franchise still doesn’t have an answer at the most important position.
Steelers Face Same Quarterback Questions Entering 2026
The Steelers are once again stuck in limbo at quarterback. Pittsburgh is still waiting on Aaron Rodgers, and while they expect him to return, they have a backup plan in place: Will Howard. The organization drafted Howard in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, but he hasn’t taken a regular-season snap yet.
Woodson’s frustration centers on a familiar pattern. Since Ben Roethlisberger’s retirement after the 2021 season, the Steelers have cycled through veteran rentals without securing a long-term solution. Dart fell directly into their lap at No. 21, but Pittsburgh instead selected Harmon, and four picks later, the Giants traded back into the first round to select the Ole Miss quarterback.
Giants’ new head coach John Harbaugh cited Dart as one of the primary reasons he agreed to take the Giants job. “I’m excited about Jaxson Dart,” Harbaugh said after arriving in New York. “I like the way he plays. I like his talent, skill set, all the things he’s accomplished, but more than that, I like who he is and what he’s about. To me, he’s about football.”
The Steelers, meanwhile, await a decision from a 42-year-old quarterback who may or may not return. And if the four-time NFL MVP retires, the franchise will lean on a sixth-round pick who has never played a meaningful NFL snap.
