Rooney: If Steelers Draft QB, He Won’t Start This Year: ‘Somebody That Will Be Developing’
Pittsburgh Steelers owner and president Art Rooney II appeared on Steelers Nation Radio Friday, where he reaffirmed that the team did not factor Aaron Rodgers into their draft strategy. He said that if Pittsburgh pounces on a quarterback, in the 2025 NFL Draft, he would not be the starter this fall.
The Steelers have bypassed a quarterback so far this draft. They took defensive tackle Derrick Harmon with the 21st overall pick and traded their second rounder to the Seattle Seahawks for wide receiver DK Metcalf.
“We really did not factor whether Aaron is coming or not into that,” Rooney said. “If we draft a quarterback – and we still might – probably not someone who’s going to start for us this year.”
The only two quarterbacks currently on Pittsburgh’s roster are Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson. Head coach Mike Tomlin and general manager Omar Khan said earlier this week that they would have four quarterbacks on the roster by the start of training camp in late July.
“It’s going to be somebody that will be developing and may play down the road,” Rooney said, “It’s not like somebody that’s going to have a big impact on this season if we draft a quarterback.”
Rooney indicated that the imminence of offseason programing may speed the decision process along, saying they’d like to get him in the facility before that begins. One of the main competitors for a quarterback, the New Orleans Saints, drafted Louisville’s Tyler Shough with their second-round pick.
After Cam Ward (Tennessee Titans) and Jaxson Dart (New York Giants), he was the third quarterback off the draft board. Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders had continued to fall. Rodgers has kept retirement open as a possibility, and as the spots continue to be filled, they are essentially the only option left barring any surprise moves from teams around the league.
“We’re still kind of getting the same signals that we’ve been getting recently,” Rooney said. “He does want to come here so I do think we may get word soon.”
For live updates, check out Steelers Now’s 2025 NFL Draft Rundown.