The Pittsburgh Steelers have been under a microscope ever since the bitter end to their 2024 season.
For General Manager Omar Khan and his front office, the offseason was never about damage control—it was about setting a long-term foundation built on precision, not panic.
The first major challenge came at quarterback.
After an abrupt and surprising split with both Russell Wilson and Justin Fields following the regular season, the Steelers were left with a barren quarterback room heading into the 2025 NFL Draft. With no clear signal-caller and several high-profile prospects available, many expected Pittsburgh to swing big.
Instead, Khan and head coach Mike Tomlin stayed the course.
It showed a level of restraint that didn’t sit well with every fan or analyst. The Steelers passed on projected top-tier quarterback Shedeur Sanders, son of NFL legend Deion Sanders, despite his name recognition and flashy college résumé.
Sanders eventually slid to the fifth round, where the division rival Cleveland Browns scooped him up. The Browns had already selected Oregon standout Dillon Gabriel, further fueling speculation that Pittsburgh had missed its moment.
Rather than chase headlines, Pittsburgh focused on the trenches and defensive help early, drafting Derrick Harmon, Kaleb Johnson, and Jack Sawyer with their top picks.
Then came their only quarterback selection: Will Howard, a physical and poised signal-caller out of Ohio State, taken in the sixth round.
The Pittsburgh Steelers clearly made the best decision by passing on Shedeur Sanders
The pick raised eyebrows, if not outright criticism. Was this really the answer? Howard, while talented, wasn’t the household name many fans had envisioned leading the next era of Steelers football.
But now, just weeks into the 2025 training camp at St. Vincent College, the Steelers’ plan is beginning to shine.
Since the draft, Pittsburgh has overhauled the roster with elite talent—adding All-Pro quarterback Aaron Rodgers, cornerbacks Jalen Ramsey and Darius Slay, and several other veteran leaders.
The presence of Rodgers has taken immense pressure off Howard, allowing him to grow the right way: learning behind one of the game’s greatest, instead of being thrown into the fire.
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Meanwhile, in Cleveland, both Sanders and Gabriel are buried behind another familiar face: former Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett. Neither rookie has taken meaningful first-team reps, and reports from Browns camp suggest a crowded and uncertain future at the quarterback position.
Pittsburgh, by contrast, is thriving.
The quarterback room is stable. The locker room is experienced. And the sixth-round flyer on Will Howard is beginning to look like a well-calculated investment rather than a desperation move.
The Steelers didn’t follow the hype—they followed their board. And while it wasn’t the flashy decision on draft night, it’s becoming clear that Pittsburgh’s patience, strategy, and refusal to reach for a quarterback are all paying off. The fruit of their labor is ripening—and the rest of the league is starting to take notice.