NFL Free Agency has come and gone, and the Pittsburgh Steelers still need a starting quarterback for next season. The team has been linked to Aaron Rodgers since the offseason began but has yet to pull the trigger on signing the 20-year vet.
While the Rodgers saga drags on, the 2025 NFL Draft keeps getting closer and PFSN’s latest three-round mock draft predicts the team will find its future quarterback.
Steelers Expected To Select Mississippi’s Jaxson Dart at No. 21
Pittsburgh has cycled through five quarterbacks in search of a long-term starter since Ben Roethlisberger retired after the 2021 season. None of the five succeeded in securing the role, and the Steelers have returned to the drawing board.
Justin Fields began the 2024 season as the starter and led the team to a 4-2 record before Russell Wilson returned from a calf injury. Wilson managed the team to a 10-7 regular season record and a Wild Card Berth, but neither quarterback will be with the team in 2025.
Fields finished 2024 with 1,106 and five touchdowns, while Wilson finished with 2,482 yards, 16 touchdowns, and five interceptions. It was Wilson’s job to lose once Mike Tomlin made the QB switch, but the veteran and the team faded down the stretch and were bounced by the Baltimore Ravens in the Wild Card Round.
So where does the team go from here? They hold the No. 21 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and are likely too far away to trade up for Miami’s Cam Ward or Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders. PFSN’s Reese Decker recently released a three-round mock draft and expects the team to take Mississippi’s Jaxson Dart at No. 21.
Decker wrote, “The Aaron Rodgers saga continues, and if history is any indication, it could drag on for a while. Regardless of whether Rodgers joins the Steelers, he’d be a short-term fix. Mason Rudolph is little more than a bridge. The Steelers are searching for a long-term answer at quarterback.”
Rudolph was drafted by Pittsburgh in 2018 in hopes of being Roethlisberger’s successor but never became the full-time starter. He played for the Tennessee Titans last season and signed a two-year, $8 million deal to return to Pittsburgh this offseason.
Decker continued, “Dart posted career highs in completion percentage, yards, touchdowns, and QBR in his final season while throwing just five interceptions.
“With 41 starts over four years, the 21-year-old is a seasoned prospect. He’s a smooth operator with grit and mobility, keeping defenses honest in the RPO game. He delivers accurate throws at all levels and isn’t afraid to stand in the pocket under pressure or fight for extra yards.”
Dart 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, and has settled in as QB3 in this year’s draft class.
He 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. With Rudolph back in the mix, Pittsburgh could allow Dart to develop without starting immediately. Getting the Ole Miss quarterback potentially without moving up would also be a huge benefit for the Steelers.
