Tomlin: Aaron Rodgers Won’t Impact Steelers Draft Strategy
PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin and general manager Omar Khan met with media Tuesday morning, where they affirmed that their plans for the 2025 NFL Draft this weekend aren’t being hampered by Aaron Rodgers’ decision.
Tomlin was confident when asked whether the Rodgers situation could have any impact on their strategy or approach.
“It does not.”
Tomlin also said he “hadn’t pondered” the possibility of Rodgers still not having a decision made and missing OTAs or minicamp early in the summer.
However, if their choices this weekend impact what Rodgers wants to do, so be it. Tomlin expressed that the Steelers are the ones dictating Rodgers’s decision this weekend. Not the other way around.
“I think what you do in the draft often times affects some talent acquisition that happens after,” Tomlin said. “We’ll see how the acquisition goes this weekend.”
Currently, the Steelers quarterback room only consists of career backups Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson. According to Khan, that number will double by the end of July.
“We go to camp with four quarterbacks. Right now, we have two on the roster. All options are on the table in how we acquire those last two,” he said. “I assure you we’ll have four when we get to Latrobe.”
If Rodgers chooses not to come to Pittsburgh, then the best chance for acquisition comes at the draft this weekend. So far the Steelers have welcomed quarterback prospects Shedeur Sanders and Jaxson Dart for visits, both of whom are expected to be available by the 21st pick. While this is considered by many to be a relatively weak quarterback class, Khan was much happier with the talent pool.
“I think it’s a good quarterback [class]. I really do,” he said.
“There’s some really good players out there,” he continued. “I don’t think we’re saying: ‘We’re taking this position in this round or that round.’ We’ll just let it come to us.”
Alan Saunders provided reporting from Pittsburgh.