Aaron Rodgers could be heading to Pittsburgh, but he might not be the only quarterback on the move. While the Steelers are reportedly all in on the 41-year-old Rodgers, they’re still eyeing a long-term plan at the position. Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz says Pittsburgh isn’t out on drafting a quarterback this year, even if Rodgers comes in as the guy for now.
The Steelers have seven picks and could use one on a developmental quarterback later in the draft. A recent mock draft from Pro Football Sports Network has them grabbing an athletic passer in the third round — someone who’s still raw but has upside. With Justin Fields off the table and Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson the only quarterbacks under contract, Pittsburgh may be planning to bring in both a veteran and a project for the future.
Rodgers’ Possible Replacement Might be Found in the 3rd Round
“That addition wouldn’t preclude the Steelers from drafting a quarterback,” Schultz wrote. “While they likely wouldn’t be in the market for a QB in the first round, expect them to use one of their seven picks on a signal-caller since Mason Rudolph is currently the only [starter] on the roster.”
In his latest mock draft, Pro Football Sports Network’s Jacob Infante already considered this contingency. He projects Pittsburgh taking Alabama’s Jalen Milroe in the third round, 83rd overall. He’s athletic and needs polish, and if he lands with the Steelers, he would get a chance to develop for one or two years, presumably behind Rodgers.
This is a good way to develop a starter without wasting draft capital trading up into the first round. Jalen Hurts was a second-round pick, and people forget that Lamar Jackson dropped to 29th overall, bucking the orthodoxy that you have to gamble big early in the first round to land “the man ” at quarterback.
Steelers Already Missed Out on Possible Heir Apparent, Justin Fields
This was avoidable. The Steelers had a chance to keep Fields, but he chose to test the market in free agency after the Steelers chose not to offer him guaranteed money into his second season.
The Jets swooped in and signed Fields to a two-year $40 million contract, including $30 million in guarantees.
The Steelers appear ready to roll with Rodgers, who won five games last year and has a long history of not making mistakes on the field while more or less running the offense.
There is a sentiment that Mike Tomlin will be able to handle the situation. Still, Pittsburgh has reportedly given Rodgers a soft deadline of April 21, while players and fans become increasingly impatient and anxious.
The Steelers regularly make the playoffs but lose badly in the first round. But they also win just enough not to be able to draft a top-tier quarterback more than three years after Ben Roethlisberger’s retirement. The Steelers have to be hoping this is the year that changes.