With the dust settling on free agency, most fans aren't content with the current state of the Pittsburgh Steelers roster. Despite losing numerous starters in free agency, the Steelers did little to replace them while playing the compensatory formula game and stockpiling comp picks for the 2026 NFL Draft. The most concerning position on the team is quarterback.
The Steelers agreed to a reunion with Mason Rudolph, but Pittsburgh is still holding out hope for Aaron Rodgers. But even if Rodgers signs, Pittsburgh is looking for a long-term solution.
Recently, Mel Kiper Jr. joined fellow NFL Draft expert Field Yates to share his mock draft and discuss some of what he's been hearing around the league. When discussing the Steelers, Kiper hinted that Pittsburgh could make a shocking selection with the 21st overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
"There's a belief around the league that [the Steelers] will, potentially, look at a quarterback in one of these very high rounds," Schefter said. "I had one team suggest, right or wrong, that they could see Tyler Shough sneaking into the first round, going to Pittsburgh at that slot."
This decision would throw everyone through a loop. Kiper went on to explain how grim the QB situation looks in Pittsburgh and why adding talent—either through free agency or the NFL Draft—is necessary.
"For the time being, Mason Rudolph is QB1 in Pittsburgh, pending further moves. And I think everyone is expecting the Steelers to make another move or two at the quarterback position, whether that comes here in free agency or in the upcoming NFL Draft."
The Pittsburgh Steelers can't afford to roll the dice on Tyler Shough in the 2025 NFL Draft
In a billion-dollar industry, it's all about taking swings on a quarterback until you find a guy who can be the face of your franchise. While Tyler Shough has some intriguing traits to work with, the Pittsburgh Steelers would be digging down the consensus board if they selected him in the first round of the 2025 draft.
Shough is interesting. At 6'4 3/4'' and 219, he possessed good mobility (4.63 speed at the NFL Combine) and impressive overall athletic traits. If you only watched his highlight film, you wouldn't have trouble betting on the traits, as Shough has a big arm and can make off-platform throws.
But his skill set doesn't match his upside in this case.
Shough is an outlier in a scary way. The polarizing quarterback will turn 26 years old in September, just as his rookie season is beginning. Because of his age, he needs to enter the NFL with guns blazing. If he can't, the Steelers—or whichever team drafts him—won't be able to sit around and practice patience while he figures things out.
Shough has been around college football for so long that he was actually Justin Herbert's backup at Oregon. Over the past seven years, Shough transferred twice but only appeared in more than seven games one time. This came as Louisville's quarterback in 2024 when the threw for 3,195 yards, 23 touchdowns, and six interceptions in 12 games.
Unfortunately, Shough is an old project quarterback, and regardless of his impressive tools package, this is a tough selection to get behind. Taking him with the 21st overall pick would be a sucker punch to Pittsburgh Steelers fans who have been longing for real answers at the quarterback position.