With Russell Wilson jetting off to New York to join the Giants, Pittsburgh remains hostage. They are eagerly awaiting Aaron Rodgers's decision on whether to sign with the Steelers, sign with someone else, or retire. The veteran quarterback keeps his cards close to his chest, so no one is sure when a conclusion might arrive. Those who cover the team believe Rodgers will end up in Pittsburgh.
Steelers general manager Omar Khan has put all his eggs in one basket before, and it bit him. He put all his resources into adding Brandon Aiyuk last offseason, but that failed, and the club was without a second receiver option on offense. Khan appears to be doing the same thing with Rodgers, and it could create a panic move in the upcoming draft.
Missing out on Rodgers could force the Steelers into taking a quarterback high in the draft.
Aaron Rodgers not joining Steelers could create draft panic for Pittsburgh
Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
It's unlikely, but don't rule out Shedeur Sanders possibly slipping in the first round of the draft. He hasn't proved to be a franchise-level quarterback yet, and many scouts have mixed reviews of him. The Steelers haven't expressed much interest in the Colorado product to this point in the pre-draft process. Unless Rodgers leaves the Steelers high and dry, it's hard to see him being their top pick.
Sanders is the son of NFL legend Deion Sanders, the head coach of the Colorado football program. This quarterback has good mobility and placement with the ball, but he appears to be shooting up draft boards based on his name. Mike Tomlin loves NFL bloodlines, so if Sanders is magically available with their top pick, it wouldn't be too farfetched to select him.
Jaxson Dart, QB, Ole Miss
Pittsburgh's most plausible quarterback selection in Round 1 is Jaxson Dart.
The Ole Miss product has played in 45 games throughout his college career. That is a lot of experience for a quarterback in one of the toughest conferences in college football. Dart hasn't produced many elite games during his stint, leaving many confused about this prospect. Some think of him highly, while others don't understand the hype.
One of his best traits going into the draft is his steady production increases from year to year. He has produced better numbers each year and is coming off his best season. Dart wasn't able to push Ole Miss over the hump, and that continues to be a lingering issue. The Steelers have expressed interest in Dart during the pre-draft process. If they take a quarterback in Round 1, it'll be him.
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Tyler Shough, QB, Louisville
Pittsburgh already hosted Tyler Shough for a pre-draft visit. That should show how much interest they have in this quarterback. The concern with Shough remains his lack of starting experience. He is coming off his first entire season as a starter. He did start for the Oregon Ducks during the shortened COVID campaign. His age of 25 isn't something that will make you excited about this draft prospect.
Shough has enticing traits that could influence the Steelers. He has spent seven years in college football trying to find his game. This quarterback went from Oregon to Texas Tech and then to Louisville. He might be a gamble, but he could be one of the most pro-ready prospects in this class. The Steelers are interested in this prospect, even though it would be a massive gamble.