The Pittsburgh Steelers have been in a quarterback quandary since Ben Roethlisberger — the face of their historic franchise for 18 seasons — retired in 2022. Kenny Pickett, selected No. 20 overall in the 2023 NFL draft, was a giant swing-and-miss.
If general manager Omar Khan and the Steelers’ brass don’t find a solution quickly, the Pickett failure could set the club back decades. For now, though, Pittsburgh is working through two options: Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. Both are pending free agents, and only one will likely be retained in March.
The Steelers are a consistently average team and rarely in a position to draft a coveted quarterback prospect (since 2001, they’ve only picked in the top 10 once).
Sitting at No. 21 definitely won’t get them a Cam Ward or even Shedeur Sanders. But it will get them a top wide receiver — a position they ignored in the first two rounds in 2024 and failed to capitalize on with a proven veteran in the offseason.
Steelers Projected To Select Missouri’s Luther Burden III in 2025 NFL Draft
PFSN’s Joe DeLeone projects Pittsburgh will grab Missouri’s Luther Burden III as the first true wide receiver off the board (behind Colorado’s dual-threat CB/WR Travis Hunter).
“The Steelers figuring out what they’re doing at quarterback will significantly impact their drafting decisions,” DeLeone wrote in his seven-round 2025 NFL mock draft on Feb. 22. “Assuming they move for a veteran QB, getting more receivers should be a top priority. Arthur Smith is creative enough as a play-caller to use a YAC dominator like Luther Burden III to his full advantage.”
PFSN NFL Draft analyst Jacob Infante calls Burden a creative and explosive playmaker who sheds tackles easier than an average wide receiver. Pairing him with George Pickens, who will be hungry to step up in a contract year, would give their offense the shot in the arm it needs.
Mississippi QB Jaxson Dart Could Be a Steal for Steelers at No. 52
Rarely is a franchise quarterback found outside the draft’s first round, but it has happened. Just look at Philadelphia Eagles’ Jalen Hurts (who thought he was going to the Steelers) and, of course, the GOAT Tom Brady.
If Pittsburgh signs Wilson, 36, it will be a short-term deal. And there’s no indication that Fields is a long-term answer either. The Wilson-Fields duo finished with respective 75.3 (C) and 78.1 (C+) grades in PFSN’s QB+ metric this past season.
A contingency plan will need to be in place, noted DeLeone, and that plan is named Jaxson Dart.
“Assuming the Steelers take a swing on a veteran starter, they’ll need to find a young prospect in the class as a contingency plan,” DeLeone wrote. “Jaxson Dart has the athleticism and poise to, at the very least, be a high-quality backup for a very long time. If he pans out, he could be the leader of a roster led by a stout defense like Bo Nix has already done.”
Rising on many NFL Draft boards following an impressive senior campaign, Dart has loads of experience at the collegiate level. In one year at USC and three at Mississippi, the 6-foot-2 quarterback played 45 games, with 41 starts.
PSFN’s Reese Decker observed that Dart is a “maestro in the quick game” and “lethal when playing in rhythm.” Given Pittsburgh’s young and inexperienced offensive line, those attributes would be useful if the Steelers roll the dice on Dart.