The Pittsburgh Steelers need a quarterback. Justin Fields and Russell Wilson will share a stadium again but not a locker room, with each having departed for New York. Fields will wear Jets green, and Wilson will wear Giants Blue.
Aaron Rodgers is the big name being rumored to fill the hole left in the quarterback room, but that is not the only name floating in Pittsburgh. Jaxson Dart is rumored to be another potential target for the Steelers as the long-term quarterback option—or is he?
Adam Schefter and Ian Rapoport Share Different Takes on Pittsburgh Steelers Draft Options
Speaking on his podcast, “The Adam Schefter Podcast,” Senior NFL Insider Adam Schefter seems to think that a quarterback is the Steeler’s target, and his name is not Dart, but Sheduer Sanders.
“I think the only quarterback the Steelers would consider in Round 1 is Sheduer Sanders,” Schefter says. The Steelers hold the 21st pick in the NFL Draft this year, so Sanders falling to Pittsburgh would be quite a fall from earlier projections. Throughout the season, many have considered the Raiders or Giants as a landing spot for the son of Coach Prime, but the odds of being an early first-round pick have been slipping away as of late.
In contrast, while speaking on “The Pat McAfee Show,” fellow Senior NFL Insider Ian Rapoport gave insight on a potentially different route for the Steelers quarterback option in the draft. One of Pat McAfee’s analysts and good friends, “Tone Digs”(Anthony DiGuilio), brought up the pro day at Ole Miss, during which Dart participated.
Rapoport then shared, “It sounded like the Pro Day for Dart went exceptionally well. My guess is that he goes in the first round.. The Steelers would love a long team answer at Quarterback, and that would make sense to me”.
Rapoport mentioned that quarterbacks could be hard to predict, especially in the first round, but that still gives two different perspectives from two senior NFL insiders. What is important to note is that Schefter’s comments did come before Dart’s pro day, so perhaps the Ole Miss quarterback did turn some heads with his performance, as it certainly caught the attention of “The Pat McAfee Show” and Ian Rapoport.
Jaxson Dart’s Stock on the Rise
After turning some heads at his pro day, it sounds like Dart is looking to earn a spot in the first round. The former Rebel was under center in Oxford for three consecutive seasons since transferring from USC after the 2021 season. He ended his Ole Miss career with 10,617 yards, 72 touchdowns, and 22 interceptions, completing 65.7% of his passes.
Dart ended his collegiate career with his best year in 2024, setting new passing career highs in touchdowns, yards, completion percentage, and rating. Adding to his draft stock with a stellar pro day only continues the momentum he ended the year with.
PSFN’s most recent Mock Draft predicts Dart to fall to the Giants in Round 2. But maybe Dart has done enough to prove himself to be the long-term answer for the Steelers, or perhaps it will be Sanders. The Steelers will answer that to the NFL world in just a few short weeks on April 24 in Green Bay, WI.