The Pittsburgh Steelers have a storied history of success that can be attributed to building Super Bowl rosters through the NFL Draft, and general manager Omar Khan wants to keep that going. But not everyone is going to agree with the new direction of the team. This includes legendary defensive back Rod Woodson.
FanSided's video team caught up with Woodson to talk football and the state of the 2026 Steelers. One move Woodson couldn't get past was the team's decision to pass on Mississippi State quarterback Jaxson Dart in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Woodson got candid with his thoughts on Pittsburgh's decision to pass up a potential franchise quarterback.
“I thought last year the Steelers would take Jaxson Dart, but they took [Derrick Harmon]. I thought Dart fit the system, fit the Steelers, fit the city; he’s got a little swag, a toughness to him, a little grit to him. He can throw ball, he can run it, I thought he fit perfectly with what the Steelers are trying to build.
They have not had a quarterback since Ben [Roethlisberger] left, and that’s been their downfall.”
Rod Woodson's frustrations with the Pittsburgh Steelers' decision to pass on Jaxson Dart are justified
Unless a team's front office can construct an other-worldly roster (see the 2024 Philadelphia Eagles), finding a franchise quarterback is essential for teams hoping for Super Bowl success. And until the right guy is in place, nothing else is going to matter.
Woodson spoke to FanSided about new head coach Mike McCarthy taking the reins in Pittsburgh. While optimistic about what McCarthy offers the offense and the team as a whole, the veteran head coach's presence won't mean anything if he doesn't have a respectable quarterback commanding his offense.
This is nothing against Derrick Harmon, who—despite dealing with a pair of knee injuries during his rookie season—showed flashes when on the field. Harmon likely has a bright future ahead.
Rather, this is about passing on a potential franchise QB when the Steelers haven't had a semblance of an answer at the position since Ben Roethlisberger in 2021.
Dart, meanwhile, checked all of the boxes the Steelers typically look for in a first-round pick (and a quarterback at that). The Ole Miss QB had an impressive profile, which included size ( 6'2 1/4'', 223 pounds), arm talent, mobility, youth, and production (11,970 passing yards and 81 touchdowns in four college seasons).
As a rookie for the New York Giants in 2025, Dart, unfortunately, dealt with concussions. However, when he was on the field for his 12 starts (14 total games), the 22-year-old quarterback put up 2,272 passing yards with 24 total touchdowns (15 passing) and five interceptions. Dart also proved to be an effective runner, chipping 487 rushing yards for 5.7 yards per carry.
There was never a guarantee that Jaxson Dart was going to be a franchise quarterback in the NFL (and there still isn't). But the Pittsburgh Steelers' philosophy of passing on a potential long-term signal caller to take a raw interior defender is enough to upset Rod Woodson. And the NFL legend's frustrations are justified.
Rod Woodson spoke on behalf of the NFL Alumni Association as part of its “GEAR UP Against Cancer” campaign in partnership with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Division of Cancer Prevention.