Pittsburgh Steelers fans who disapprove of the decision to go after Aaron Rodgers aren't going to like where this team's interests are heading leading up to the 2025 NFL Draft. The Steelers are expected to have a new starting quarterback to begin the season for a fifth year in a row, and a long-term answer at the position is needed.
The problem is this doesn't look like the year to land a franchise QB.
Miami's Cam Ward and Colorado's Shedeur Sanders are considered the top prospects, but neither QB would have been ranked among the top three signal-callers of the 2024 draft class. Every other quarterback a team would be selecting after these two players is a shot in the dark.
But that won't stop the Steelers from spending a draft pick on a quarterback. One player they have their eye on is Texas Longhorns product Quinn Ewers. The former number-one overall recruit in the nation out of high school had a disappointing climax to his college career before declaring for the 2025 NFL Draft.
Pittsburgh held a formal meeting with Ewers at the NFL Combine, but they weren't through visiting with him yet. According to John Hendrix of Althon Sports, the Steelers are scheduled to host Ewers for a pre-draft visit.
"Can confirm Texas QB Quinn Ewers is having dinner with the Saints on Monday night," Hendrix posted via X. "He's also meeting with the Jets, Raiders and Steelers today and will also meet with the Dolphins after Pro Day."
Interest in Quinn Ewers signals where the Pittsburgh Steelers could target a QB in the 2025 NFL Draft
If you watched Ewers closely in 2024, this top-30 visit with the Pittsburgh Steelers won't get you excited. The Texas QB struggled mightily when under pressure this past season while he routinely missed open wide receivers Matthew Golden and Isaiah Bond down the field.
Ewers began his career as a backup to C.J. Stroud at Ohio State before transferring to Texas ahead of the 2022 season. On paper, Ewers stats check the boxes teams look for. Over the past three years, the talented quarterback managed 9,128 passing yards and 68 touchdowns to go with 24 interceptions.
But Ewers' trajectory isn't what NFL teams want to see. After an encouraging 2023 campaign, the Ewers crashed back down to earth as a senior in 2024. Once regarded as a potential future number one pick in the NFL Draft, Ewers' stock has taken an astronomical hit.
It's clear that the Steelers are targeting a quarterback in the draft. While I question why this team has taken such a strong interest in Ewers, their pre-draft breadcrumbs show us where they could be targeting a QB in the upcoming draft.
Ewers is projected to be drafted anywhere between late on Day 2 or early on Day 3. The Steelers have also expressed a similar interest in Alabama's Jalen Milroe with a Pro Day dinner meeting. Likewise, Milroe is projected to fall in the same draft range.
Based on their quarterback interests that have been expressed through visits so far, it's safe to assume the Pittsburgh Steelers will look to land a quarterback somewhere between rounds three and five of the 2025 NFL Draft. Doing so would get a young QB on a rookie contract in the facility and leave the door open to moving up for a franchise quarterback in the 2026 draft.