Steelers to Host Record-Breaking Syracuse QB for Pre-Draft Visit
The Pittsburgh Steelers Steelers will host Syracuse quarterback Kyle McCord for a pre-draft visit next week, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. McCord will be the fourth quarterback brought in for a pre-draft visit by the Steelers, following Louisville’s Tyler Shough, Mississippi’s Jaxson Dart and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, who will be on the South Side on Thursday.
McCord, an Ohio State transfer, threw for a nation-high 4,779 yards for the Orange in 2024. He passed for 34 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
After not receiving much playing time at Ohio State outside of 2023, McCord led the Orange to a 10-3 record last season. He also put up gaudy numbers in the process, breaking multiple single-season all-time program records in his lone season with the Orange.
McCord’s 29 passing touchdowns surpassed Ryan Nassib’s single-season record that was set in 2012. He threw 300 yards or more in 11 games of the 12, missing only against Virginia Tech where he threw for 280.
In the final regular season game against 6th-ranked Miami, McCord threw for 380 yards and became the program’s first 4,000-yard passer. McCord also set an ACC single-season record with his 4,779 yards passing.
In the DIRECTV Holiday Bowl against Washington State, McCord completed 24 of 34 passes for 453 yards and five touchdowns, setting new bowl records for passing yards and touchdowns.
Despite an impressive season at Syracuse last year, Pro Football Focus believes McCord will be a project quarterback at the next level.
“Kyle McCord is a quick and accurate distributor with good ball placement but lacks elite athleticism and arm strength,” PFF wrote in their draft profile on McCord. “That will mentally require him to be at the top of his game on every snap. That could prove to be a problem due to his tendency to lock onto his initial read. He endured far too many turnovers and missed opportunities in college because of it. McCord has the potential to enjoy a solid NFL career as a backup or spot starter if he can elevate the mental aspects of his game, such as working through multiple progressions and understanding how a defender’s leverage affects throwing windows.”
In a recent mock draft, Chad Reuter of NFL.com had the Steelers selecting McCord in the third round.
STEELERS 2025 NFL DRAFT VISITOR TRACKER
Louisville QB Tyler Shough (March 6)
Ole Miss DT J.J. Pegues (March 6)
West Virginia OL Wyatt Milum (March 6) (exempt)
Tennessee RB Dylan Sampson (March 14)
TCU WR/RB Savion Williams (March 14)
Iowa DT Yahya Black (March 14)
Iowa State WR Jayden Higgins (March 17)
Pitt K Ben Sauls (March 18) (exempt)
Texas WR Matthew Golden (April 3)
Iowa RB Kaleb Johnson (April 3)
Florida State CB Azareye’h Thomas (April 3)
Pitt TE Gavin Bartholomew (April 3) (exempt)
Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart (April 4)
South Carolina SS Nick Emmanwori (April 4)
Oregon NT Jamaree Caldwell (April 4)
Iowa State WR Jaylin Noel (April 4)
Virginia Tech RB Bhayshul Tuten (April 7)
Florida State DT Joshua Farmer (April 7)
SMU DL Elijah Roberts (April 8)
Ole Miss CB Trey Amos (April 8)
Oklahoma State RB Ollie Gordon (April 9)
North Carolina RB Omarion Hampton (April 9)
Oregon DT Derrick Harmon (April 9)
Kansas State RB DJ Giddens (reported)
Texas RB Jaydon Blue (per player)
Texas A&M OLB Shemar Stewart (reported)
Pitt S Donovan McMillon (reported) (exempt)
Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders (reported)
UCF RB R.J. Harvey (reported)
Syracuse QB Kyle McCord (reported)
Visits completed: 20/30
Visits reported: 26/30