There seems to be no end in sight to the drama surrounding Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers, but at the end of the day, it might not even matter. As Rodgers continues to take his sweet time to decide whether he's playing football in 2025, Pittsburgh's front office is preparing as if he's not part of the picture.
Leading up to the NFL Draft, the Steelers have expressed an interest in numerous mid-round quarterback prospects. Along the pre-draft scouting trail, they've met with players like Texas' Quinn Ewers, Alabama's Jalen Milroe, Ohio State's Will Howard, and Lousville's Tyler Shough.
Now the Steelers appear to be eyeing more than just a backup quarterback.
On Monday, the Steelers hosted Ole Miss Rebels quarterback Jaxson Dart for a pre-draft visit. Dart has been flying up draft boards since the Senior Bowl, and the belief is that he will be a first-round pick when it's all said and done.
After the news dropped, prominent NFL insider Ian Rapoport quoted a tweet from Alan Saunders of Steeelers Now—noting that Dart's visit with Pittsburgh 'is an interesting one'.
Jaxson Dart is an interesting one... https://t.co/z32OnW8N0v
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 4, 2025
The longer the Steelers go without a quarterback, the more likely it seems they could pull the trigger on a QB early in the 2025 NFL Draft. At this rate, Jaxson Dart could be the prize they are eyeing in the first round.
The Pittsburgh Steelers could target Jaxson Dart in the NFL Draft regardless of Aaron Rodgers' status
While signing Aaron Rodgers before the NFL Draft would give the Pittsburgh Steelers more flexibility at the quarterback position, a 41-year-old quarterback isn't going to change the way this team feels about Jaxson Dart.
After hosting Dart for a formal meeting at the NFL Combine, the Steelers didn't get enough, and Dart—a potential first-round quarterback prospect—claims a top-30 visit from Pittsburgh. This is a clear sign of Omar Khan's interest.
The Steelers aren't about to let Rodgers make the rules, as Dart could be a player they target in the first round, no matter what, at this point. If Rodgers doesn't sign with Pittsburgh before the draft, Khan could look to the future at quarterback. But even if Rodgers does sign, the Steelers could draft the 21-year-old quarterback to sit for a year behind Rodgers (who will turn 42 late in the 2025 season).
We already knew that Jaxson Dart checked most of the boxes the Steelers look for in a quarterback and a first-round pick. Now it's as clear as day that there is heavy interest on the part of Pittsburgh's front office. This team may have already found a replacement for Aaron Rodgers before Rodgers even signed with the team.