The Pittsburgh Steelers entered Day 2 of the 2025 NFL Draft with momentum and opportunity. General Manager Omar Khan and his front office received praise for successfully navigating through a smoke-filled first round. They remained disciplined and selected Oregon defensive tackle Derrick Harmon at No. 21.
With quarterback Shedeur Sanders unexpectedly sliding into the late third round, Pittsburgh had a real shot at addressing their most pressing need—finally finding a future quarterback. Instead, they let it slip.
When the Steelers stepped up to the podium with the 83rd pick, Sanders and dynamic dual-threat quarterback Jalen Milroe were still available. In a draft class with thin quarterback depth, long-term potential is rare. It was a golden moment. Instead, the Steelers tended to the backfield, selecting Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson.
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To be clear, I believe Johnson is a tremendous talent. A fluid zone runner with vision and patience, his game brings back memories of former Steelers All-Pro Le'Veon Bell. Johnson was my top running back in this class and will likely be a valuable asset for Pittsburgh’s offense. But the harsh truth remains: the Steelers still are without a quarterback.
That’s what makes this pick hard to swallow.
The Pittsburgh Steelers wiffed on drafting a franchise QB on Day 2 of the NFL Draft
With Mason Rudolph under a short-term deal and Aaron Rodgers still only a rumor, quarterback uncertainty continues to define Pittsburgh’s offseason. The fact that both Sanders and Milroe were on the board and that the Steelers passed on both is a decision that may come back to haunt them.
It was painful watching Milroe, who offers a tantalizing mix of athleticism and upside, get taken just nine picks later by the Seattle Seahawks at No. 92.
The opportunity was there, and Pittsburgh let it walk out the door.
This is not about choosing a bad player—Kaleb Johnson is a great fit. But this was about choosing the wrong position at the wrong time. The quarterback question remains unanswered in Pittsburgh, and time is running out. The Steelers still have options on Day 3, but their patience is starting to feel more like a gamble than a strategy. They’ll need to hope it pays off.