When the Pittsburgh Steelers were scouting players ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft, quarterback was a low-key option to be selected early. We knew early on that Cam Ward was going to be the Titans' pick with the first selection, but at the time, Shedeur Sanders was drawing a lot of buzz.
Thankfully, Omar Khan and the front office didn't go that route, but Pittsburgh still may have missed its chance at drafting a franchise quarterback.
NFL analysts were critical of the New York Giants for trading back into the first round for Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart. However, Dart quickly silenced doubters when ex-Steelers QB Russell Wilson was benched after Week 3 and the rookie took over.
In his first seven NFL starts, Dart completed 128 of 204 passes (62.7 percent) for 1,417 yards while chipping in 17 total touchdowns and just three interceptions. Though Dart's fearlessness may have led to landing in concussion protocol for the fourth time, his aggressiveness on the field and with the football in his hands led to massive upset wins over the Chargers and Giants in the first half of his rookie season.
With Aaron Rodgers playing his worst football in recent weeks with the Steelers, fans have the right to wonder if Pittsburgh made a mistake by passing on Dart in the NFL Draft.
The Pittsburgh Steelers might have missed a golden opportunity with QB Jaxson Dart in the 2025 NFL Draft
It's not that Steelers fans are disappointed in the performance of rookie defensive tackle Derrick Harmon; it's that quarterbacks are hard to find (and infinitely more important to a team's success). Khan and company selected Harmon with the 21st overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Four picks later, the Giants selected Jaxson Dart 25th overall.
Dart may have finally helped Pittsburgh escape from QB purgatory—a place they haven't been since Ben Roethlisberger's final respectable season in 2018.
At 22 years old with good arm and frame (6'2'', 223 pounds), Dart has the tools and potential to be a franchise quarterback in the NFL. Entering Week 11, the Giants' rookie QB ranks ahead of players like Baker Mayfield, Justin Herbert, and Caleb Williams in quarterback EPA/play, per SumerSports.
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Dart also offers impressive rushing ability in the mold of Jalen Hurts. In his first seven starts, the rookie has chipped in 57 carries for 317 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground (5.6 yards per attempt).
Meanwhile, Aaron Rodgers turns 42 years old on December 2. The veteran has the lowest air yards per completion in the NFL (3.7 yards, ranked 33rd) and looks skiddish in the pocket. Dart, on the other hand, is 11th with 6.0 yards per completion. After ten weeks, Rodgers has just a 44.9 QBR compared to a 63.7 QBR for Dart.
The Steelers seem likely to look for a long-term quarterback answer in the 2026 NFL Draft, but with so many raw QBs expected to go back to school or enter the transfer portal, Pittsburgh's options could be limited.
Hindsight is always twenty-twenty, but seeing Aaron Rodgers crumble and watching a rookie Jaxson Dart flash makes it feel like the Pittsburgh Steelers may have already blown their shot at landing a franchise quarterback.