Growing Consensus That Steelers Will Land Rising QB
There’s a growing consensus in the national media, especially at the NFL Network, that Mississippi quarterback Jaxson Dart will land with the Pittsburgh Steelers at 21st overall in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Aaron Rodgers’ looming decision could play a big factor in whether the Steelers go quarterback in the first round. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network expects Rodgers to make an announcement before the NFL Draft.
“I would be very surprised if Rodgers waited until after the draft,” Rapoport said. “I would be very surprised if it wasn’t the Steelers if he plays. What I have not 100% been able to nail down is, is he absolutely, definitely playing?”
Either way, the Steelers need a long-term answer at quarterback. Dart could be an ideal fit, but it wouldn’t be surprising if he’s off the board before the Steelers pick. His draft stock has been rising.
Dan Orlovsky of ESPN thinks Dart is a top 10 pick. New Orleans at No. 9 would make a ton of sense.
“I’m a Jaxson Dart guy and I don’t think that he makes it out of the top ten.” Orlovsky said on the Pat McAfee Show last Wednesday. “He sees it well, and he can throw it.”
The Steelers are among the team’s most-interested in drafting Dart, according to a report by Ian Rapoport of NFL Network last Friday.
Appearing on an episode of The Insiders on Friday, Rapoport said that Dart, who took a visit to the Steelers’ UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on Friday, was taking his final pre-draft visit when he was in Pittsburgh.
“The Steelers one is interesting. He’s obviously very talented. If he goes middle-to-back of the first round, and he goes to a team that may or may not soon have Aaron Rogers, that’s not a long-term answer. They would love a long-term answer. Jaxson Dart has been the guy,” Rapoport said on the Pat McAfee Show.
“If you look at the back half of the draft, there’s not a ton of teams, there’s some, that need a quarterback as their franchise guy. The Steelers are one. That would be one that makes some sense to me if that’s someone they view they can take there.”
Dart is currently rates as the No. 30 overall player on the NFL Mock Draft Database consensus big board. That would make him a big reach for the Browns and Giants in the first round or the Saints at No. 9, but he would start to be reasonable for the Steelers at No. 21 or, more likely, in a trade-back scenario
The Saints may either need to reach or make a trade if they want Dart, as it’s hard to imagine him getting back past the top of the draft to them again in the second round, where they have pick No. 40.
The Tennessee Titans, Browns and Giants have the first three picks of the draft, and all need quarterbacks, but there are only two quarterbacks considered to be sure-fire first-round options: Cam Ward of Miami and Shedeur Sanders of Colorado.
Dart appears to be the third-most preferred option, with Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe behind him at No. 45 on the consensus big board.
Dart, 21, threw for 10,617 yards, 72 touchdowns and 22 interceptions during his three years at Mississippi. He also rushed for 1,500 yards and 12 more scores.
Milroe could also be in play for the Steelers in the first round.
According to a report by Dane Brugler of The Athletic, Milroe has received and accepted an invite to attend the first round of the draft later this month.
That’s unexpected for a number of reasons. First, the NFL has been expected to cut down the number of in-person draft attendees this season, with Jordan Schultz of FOX reporting in February that only 8-10 players will be invited.
Milroe is currently the No. 45 prospect on the NFL Mock Draft Database consensus big board, meaning he is not expected to be taken in the first round.
The Steelers have shown significant interest in Milroe, sending general manager Omar Khan, head coach Mike Tomlin, offensive coordinator Arthur Smith and quarterbacks coach Tom Arth to his pro day in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
The Steelers also met with Milroe at the 2025 Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama in January. Milroe struggled in that setting, but performed better at the 2025 NFL Combine.
Alan Saunders contributed reporting for this story.