The Pittsburgh Steelers signing veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers feels inevitable at this point due to the lack of available players at the position and lack of destinations for the 41-year-old.
That could all change, however, if the Steelers’ front office decides to go out of character and make a drastic decision for the 2025 NFL Draft. The last time Pittsburgh took a chance on a QB in Round 1 of the NFL Draft was with Pitt’s Kenny Pickett. While he obviously didn’t work out in Pittsburgh, it proved the organization is willing to spend a high pick to find the future face of their franchise.
If that’s the case in 2025, a defensive superstar could also be on his way out the door.
Steelers Predicted To Swap T.J. Watt for No. 1 Pick
This deal would certainly vault the Steelers into headlines much more so than the trade for Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf did. Losing the anchor of your defense, trading for the top selection of the draft, and ignoring the opportunity to land a four-time MVP would send shockwaves across the league.
Still, Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox predicts the Steelers to deal the No. 21 pick, the No. 83 pick, their 2026 second-round pick, 2026 third-round pick, and T.J. Watt to Tennessee for the No. 1 pick and the No. 103 pick.
“A trade from No. 21 to No. 1 feels like exactly the sort of move the Pittsburgh Steelers wouldn’t make on draft day,” Knox began. “Trading away one of the best players in recent franchise history feels like an even more un-Steeler move.”
“However, the Steelers are faced with a harsh reality. While they have a talented team that continues to stay in the playoff picture under head coach Mike Tomlin, they don’t have an answer at quarterback and have been largely irrelevant in the postseason because of it,” Knox wrote.
The constant jokes swirling around the Steelers about going 9-8 and falling in the Wild Card round every year could finally catch up to them. By moving up to No. 1, it gives Pittsburgh the opportunity to have their choice of Miami’s Cam Ward or Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders to build their future around. If the team opts to do what PFSN’s latest mock project the Titans will do, then Ward would end up in a Steelers uniform.
“There is growing speculation across the league that a quarterback will be selected with the first overall pick in this year’s draft. There is still a chance the Tennessee Titans will move this pick to a team like the Giants, but I elected to do no trades for this mock draft exercise.
The Titans need a franchise quarterback, and Cam Ward is this class’s best option. He is a playmaking passer with good instincts and creativity to create big plays out of nothing. He would be a great addition to a Titans’ offense in dire need of excitement,” wrote Weissman.
Rodgers was No. 21 in PFSN’s QB+ metric from last season, meaning missing out on him at this stage of his career is not a huge loss. Their offense was below average per PFSN’s Offense+ data, and the addition of Rodgers or a rookie QB will not instantly turn them into Super Bowl contenders.
So, despite the unlikelihood of this blockbuster deal, the smart decision is to move on from veteran stars and ignore Rodgers, fully embracing a rebuild if it’s possible.
Interesting theory, but it doesn’t seem plausible. Picking up Jalen Milroe and perhaps an inexpensive Kirk Cousins and then go for it in 2026 if Milroe looks more like Pickens than a future franchise QB.