We've reached April, and the Pittsburgh Steelers don't appear to have any remanence of a plan at the quarterback position. While their talks with veteran Aaron Rodgers have reportedly gone well, general manager Omar Khan and head coach Mike Tomlin won't have the patience to sit around forever, and they could make their move early in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Recently, we learned that the Steelers would be hosting Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart for a pre-draft visit. On Friday, Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette made the news official.
After meeting with Dart at the NFL Combine, Pittsburgh's brass will meet with Dart for a top-30 visit—a clear sign the team is interested in the young quarterback.
With only Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson on the roster at the quarterback position, there's no question this team needs QB help. But taking a swing on Dart feels like a desperation move.
The Pittsburgh Steelers can't afford to take Jaxson Dart in Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft
After swinging and missing on Kenny Pickett with the 20th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, the last thing the Pittsburgh Steelers can afford to do is fall short at the quarterback position. Dart checks many of the boxes teams look for in the QB position, but he doesn't go above and beyond.
This is a problem (unless, of course, you're content with getting mid-level quarterback play). While I'm intrigued by Dart's blend of size, accuracy, and composure for a 21-year-old quarterback, his average arm talent and one-read processing suggest he doesn't have the upside to be an elite quarterback at the next level.
And if you're drafting someone you know can't be in that category, why draft him at all?
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Though many NFL Draft analysts view Dart as a Day 2 prospect, the value of the quarterback position could see him getting pushed up the board. There's even a chance he's gone before the Steelers are on the clock with the 21st overall pick in the draft.
By all accounts, this isn't the year to attempt to land a franchise quarterback—especially for a team picking in the twenties. Jaxson Dart could end up being a solid NFL quarterback, but even in Pittsburgh's present state, this isn't a gamble they can afford to make in the 2025 NFL Draft. The Steelers should continue their quarterback search next year.