QB 2025

[Born2Steel]

They won't draft Sanders. Too much glitter.

Idk.... if Sanders is there at 21, I think he becomes the next Steelers rookie QB.

[pczach]

"they havent done well drafting and developing QB's"

I dont think they have been in a position to draft a QB since 2022, as they always seem to be drafting in the 20-25 spot in the draft. I think we all remember that when Rudolph was drafted in 2018, Ben had a little hissy fit that they should have gotten him another player that could help, rather than somebody to sit behind him.

IMO the decision needed to be made to draft a QB and not worry about Ben's feelings, or trying to "take one last shot at a SB with Ben". In 2019 the Steelers could have drafted Lamar Jackson instead of Terrel Edmunds in the 1st round, or in 2020 they could have drafted Jalen Hurts in the 2nd round instead of Chase Claypool, but we know the mindset then was that they still needed to get Ben some help.

IMO, its not that they didnt draft QB well or develop QB's, but rather they never had a chance to get a good QB in the draft because they were picking too low in Round1 or they didnt have the stones to piss Ben off and possibly draft his successor when they had the opportunity.

That is why the first line in my post that you quoted says that the people who made those decisions weren't taking snaps. I other words, don't blame this on Roethlisberger, every single quarterback who ever played wants a position player drafted to help him win rather than a quarterback as his potential replacement. That's up to the organization to do that. They decided they wanted to make a run with what they had and didn't go after a quarterback with any high picks until Kenny Pickett. Pickett was a reach with that pick, but we also know how badly the organization and coaching staff did at supporting him once he got there.

They could have taken Lamar Jackson, who I liked, but knew that they would have to change the offense and some personnel to make that work. It would have been the end for Ben at that point, and they didn't want to do that.

They could have drafted Jordan Love who was taken at #26 in 2020. He was a quarterback that was right there for them. I liked his throwing ability better than Jalen Hurts at the time, but Hurts was available and drafted at #53 that same year.

My point when I said they didn't draft well is that the organization hasn't been drafting quarterbacks. They only took one shot with Pickett. That's it.

The team botched this by not doing well at identifying, evaluating, drafting, or developing quarterbacks. There have been some good quarterbacks since Ben retired that they could have made a move to get but they didn't. They decided that they wanted to turn to free agency to find the quarterback that could get them over the top. That has been a failure. The organization and coaching staff screwed this up....not the Hall of Fame quarterback who got injured and old.

If they didn't want an old quarterback, they should not have turned to an old Russell Wilson or be desperate to sign 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers. That shows that the organization and coaching staff have wanted veteran quarterbacks rather than aggressively going after quarterbacks in the draft.

[lipps83]

Idk.... if Sanders is there at 21, I think he becomes the next Steelers rookie QB.

No thank you, because then Neon Deion is going to want to run the franchise.

[Dwinsgames]

[El Kabong]

They could have taken Lamar Jackson

No thank you.

They could have drafted Jordan Love

Better.

but Hurts was available

Also better.

[pczach]

Really good numbers playing in a superior conference with far better defensive talent. I think I posted a link in one of these threads showing that Dart led the NCAA in yards per attempt by a mile. Very impressive while consistently making throws deep down the field.

Of course, Ward is very athletic and does some great things with his legs while also doing it with his arm. But that is a direct comparison with the quarterback that will most likely be taken with the first pick in the draft.

Sanders is very accurate, but he makes most of his throws within 5 yards of the line of scrimmage. That's why there are some doubts about him.

That's why Dart seems to have so much upside. When you consider that he is only 21, you get an idea of what he may be able to do with some time and development in a new offensive system. There are a lot of ingredients that make you believe he may be able to make that NFL leap.

[Rotorhead]

I am hoping for Dart, maybe we draft him and go with Rudy for the year while Dart learns and we get a high pick next year to trade back and get a bunch of picks to get the rebuild done fast.

[fansince'76]

No thank you, because then Neon Deion is going to want to run the franchise.

This. He's also a combo of Tom Brady and Mike Vick - runs like Brady, passes like Vick.

[Steeler-in-west]

Steelers have been bungling the Qb position since Ben retired. I guess eventually they'll get it right. Dart needs development, i guess he can sit behind MR and/or Rodgers for a year and maybe get his chance in 26 or 27. By then hopefully Tomlin is gone

[Shoes]

Steelers have been bungling the Qb position since Ben retired. I guess eventually they'll get it right. Dart needs development, i guess he can sit behind MR and/or Rodgers for a year and maybe get his chance in 26 or 27. By then hopefully Tomlin is gone

And hopefully, Art II will transfer the team sooner rather than later. This team is severely backed up, and a significant change is needed, like a major enema.

[Voice of Reason]

And hopefully, Art II will transfer the team sooner rather than later. This team is severely backed up, and a significant change is needed, like a major enema.

This. Art II has been a complete failure as an owner.

[steelcityboyz]

I am hoping for Dart, maybe we draft him and go with Rudy for the year while Dart learns and we get a high pick next year to trade back and get a bunch of picks to get the rebuild done fast.

I also am hoping for Dart I think with the proper coaching and development he can be a good qb. Usually when you make a mistake you learn from it. If they land Dart hopefully they don't repeat the KP debacle.

[Dwinsgames]

This. He's also a combo of Tom Brady and Mike Vick - runs like Brady, passes like Vick.

perfect analogy

- - - Updated - - -

Really good numbers playing in a superior conference with far better defensive talent. I think I posted a link in one of these threads showing that Dart led the NCAA in yards per attempt by a mile. Very impressive while consistently making throws deep down the field.

Of course, Ward is very athletic and does some great things with his legs while also doing it with his arm. But that is a direct comparison with the quarterback that will most likely be taken with the first pick in the draft.

Sanders is very accurate, but he makes most of his throws within 5 yards of the line of scrimmage. That's why there are some doubts about him.

That's why Dart seems to have so much upside. When you consider that he is only 21, you get an idea of what he may be able to do with some time and development in a new offensive system. There are a lot of ingredients that make you believe he may be able to make that NFL leap.

yeah the more I watch , read and listen the more I hope Dart is there at 21 and we go ahead and pull the trigger on him ...

I was against it that early before but I have more than warmed up to the idea

[Born2Steel]

Hopefully we know something concrete on Rodgers this week. Some are expecting his announcement either way Wednesday night. By some I mean I have read about it on fan football forums, it's being thrown out there. I'm grasping at anything right now.

As for the draft, (18 days away) I have several QBs I can give reasons why we could/should take him, and also reasons why we shouldn't. I'm hoping we do draft one even if we sign Rodgers for 2 years. I want the present AND future in the QB room and offensive team meetings. Just greedy that way.

Ward, Sanders, Dart, Shough, Howard, McCord, Milroe, Ewers, Leonard, Rourke, Gabriel, and Smith, are all QBs I could see a team take a chance on and draft earlier than their projected round value. And may be gone before pick 83. Because they are QBs, and Brady and Purdy worked out well. Not all of them will be gone before pick 83, not what I'm trying to imply. Just that I think they all have a real shot at being in the top 80ish picks because of position value, even if not round value. As has been said many times in the past, just takes one team to fall in love. And...I'm not saying take one of these guys at 21. But, I do think if we don't take the one we really want at 21, real chance he's not there at 83. That's the risk, that's the gamble. If you take one at 21 and he doesn't work out, that's your legacy now.

But really it's the same risk for whoever we take at 21.

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

That is why the first line in my post that you quoted says that the people who made those decisions weren't taking snaps. I other words, don't blame this on Roethlisberger, every single quarterback who ever played wants a position player drafted to help him win rather than a quarterback as his potential replacement. That's up to the organization to do that. They decided they wanted to make a run with what they had and didn't go after a quarterback with any high picks until Kenny Pickett. Pickett was a reach with that pick, but we also know how badly the organization and coaching staff did at supporting him once he got there.

They could have taken Lamar Jackson, who I liked, but knew that they would have to change the offense and some personnel to make that work. It would have been the end for Ben at that point, and they didn't want to do that.

They could have drafted Jordan Love who was taken at #26 in 2020. He was a quarterback that was right there for them. I liked his throwing ability better than Jalen Hurts at the time, but Hurts was available and drafted at #53 that same year.

My point when I said they didn't draft well is that the organization hasn't been drafting quarterbacks. They only took one shot with Pickett. That's it.

The team botched this by not doing well at identifying, evaluating, drafting, or developing quarterbacks. There have been some good quarterbacks since Ben retired that they could have made a move to get but they didn't. They decided that they wanted to turn to free agency to find the quarterback that could get them over the top. That has been a failure. The organization and coaching staff screwed this up....not the Hall of Fame quarterback who got injured and old.

If they didn't want an old quarterback, they should not have turned to an old Russell Wilson or be desperate to sign 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers. That shows that the organization and coaching staff have wanted veteran quarterbacks rather than aggressively going after quarterbacks in the draft.

I hear what you are saying. I just dont think they did a bad job at identifying, evaluating, drafting QB's. The majority of the starting NFL QB's in the NFL were all drafted early in the draft before the Steelers were selecting in the first round. They did a good job evaluating that the guys that were eligible to draft, were not that good.

When Ben finally retired they drafted the top QB in that class, but Pickett was not of the same class of skill, ability of guys like Justin Herbert, CJ Stroud, Burrow, Allen, Mahomes, Goff, Hurts, Daniels, etc.

What the needed to do was draft Ben's successor, 3-5 years before he was ready to retire and if he got upset by it then let him move on. Too many fans were too sentimental about not seeing Ben in another uniform, but just like Favre, Brady, Rodgers, Manning, etc. They should have planned to move on from an aging QB to a possible future franchise QB.

I dont see this year as the one that you find a franchise QB in the draft. I doubt that any of these guys would be drafted ahead of any of the top 6 drafted from last year. Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye, Michael Penix, JJ McCarthy, Bo Nix all would likely be evaluated higher. Steeler fans might just have to embrace the suck at QB for a season or 2 more.

[Mojouw]

I don't think the Steelers "messed" too much up ASIDE from Canada. That's been hashed out. Let's skip it this time.

Most franchises don't draft the "next" QB until the current guy starts to fall off. And before Ben's elbow disintegrated; he was still occasionally tossihg 400-500 yard games. He'd started to lose some deep ball pinpoint precision and hindsight indicates that if they'd scanned his elbow with science lasers in late 2018 or 2019; they'd likely have seen damage.

If Ben's elbow holds together; I really think that team had a very real SB run in them. Drafting Bush and it a QB in the first round was the rigoursly logical and sound move at the time. When it happened every one of us was mostly excited.

The next year; they don't pick in the first round. So no realistic path to getting Love. I'm not going to hate them for not taking Hurts in the second round. Not many teams would have.

Not many good QBs taken in 2021. I'm not sad they didn't draft Mac Jones.

We all know what happened in 2022. They might've drafted the best of a bad lot.

2023 was another poor QB class.

2024 was not possible for the team to get in position to draft one of the big name guys.

I'm struggling to see where they missed out.

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

I don't think the Steelers "messed" too much up ASIDE from Canada. That's been hashed out. Let's skip it this time.

Most franchises don't draft the "next" QB until the current guy starts to fall off. And before Ben's elbow disintegrated; he was still occasionally tossihg 400-500 yard games. He'd started to lose some deep ball pinpoint precision and hindsight indicates that if they'd scanned his elbow with science lasers in late 2018 or 2019; they'd likely have seen damage.

If Ben's elbow holds together; I really think that team had a very real SB run in them. Drafting Bush and it a QB in the first round was the rigoursly logical and sound move at the time. When it happened every one of us was mostly excited.

The next year; they don't pick in the first round. So no realistic path to getting Love. I'm not going to hate them for not taking Hurts in the second round. Not many teams would have.

Not many good QBs taken in 2021. I'm not sad they didn't draft Mac Jones.

We all know what happened in 2022. They might've drafted the best of a bad lot.

2023 was another poor QB class.

2024 was not possible for the team to get in position to draft one of the big name guys.

I'm struggling to see where they missed out.

I agree that there really wasnt a lot to draft as a replacement QB the past few years.

I think that its just me that when 2018 came around Ben had been in the league around 15 years and I thought that it was time to start looking for his successor. Jackson was still on the board at the bottom of the 1st and I thought it was good value, I liked how he progressed the year after his Heisman win as a passer and looked to have the mechanics of being a good QB in time.

They picked Edmunds in 2018, but I thought that if they drafted Jackson and developed him for a couple seasons. But we saw how Ben reacted in 2018 when they took Rudolph in the 3rd, he would have whined even harder if they took Jackson in the 1st round so I dont know if that was even in the cards with the Steelers front office.

[Mojouw]

I agree that there really wasnt a lot to draft as a replacement QB the past few years.

I think that its just me that when 2018 came around Ben had been in the league around 15 years and I thought that it was time to start looking for his successor. Jackson was still on the board at the bottom of the 1st and I thought it was good value, I liked how he progressed the year after his Heisman win as a passer and looked to have the mechanics of being a good QB in time.

They picked Edmunds in 2018, but I thought that if they drafted Jackson and developed him for a couple seasons. But we saw how Ben reacted in 2018 when they took Rudolph in the 3rd, he would have whined even harder if they took Jackson in the 1st round so I dont know if that was even in the cards with the Steelers front office.

Agreed.

The biggest issue, I guess, was the team wasn't going to change it's offense or philosophy in 2018 for a draft prospect - even one as good as Jackson.

Instead they gambled that Rudolph could flourish playing a broadly similar style.

They were wrong. But I see why it happened.

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

Agreed.

The biggest issue, I guess, was the team wasn't going to change it's offense or philosophy in 2018 for a draft prospect - even one as good as Jackson.

Instead they gambled that Rudolph could flourish playing a broadly similar style.

They were wrong. But I see why it happened.

Yes. The thing that I liked about Jackson was that it looked like his footwork, passing mechanics were improved his final season at Louisville to where he could be productive from the pocket and not primarily a read-option QB if given time and coaching on reads and progression. But there was no way to tell how well he could adapt to that or if he needed to be more of a read-option QB. I dont know if a big offensive philosophy change was going to be needed or not if he was given 1-2 years behind Ben.

In the end, I was more hopeful the Steelers would sign a decent veteran this year and not look to draft a QB in the 2025 draft, because I think the QB options here are not good. I would rather look to the 2026 draft if they were to target a QB. I am honestly looking at a 3rd place finish in the AFC North this season, or maybe worse.

[Born2Steel]

Yes. The thing that I liked about Jackson was that it looked like his footwork, passing mechanics were improved his final season at Louisville to where he could be productive from the pocket and not primarily a read-option QB if given time and coaching on reads and progression. But there was no way to tell how well he could adapt to that or if he needed to be more of a read-option QB. I dont know if a big offensive philosophy change was going to be needed or not if he was given 1-2 years behind Ben.

In the end, I was more hopeful the Steelers would sign a decent veteran this year and not look to draft a QB in the 2025 draft, because I think the QB options here are not good. I would rather look to the 2026 draft if they were to target a QB. I am honestly looking at a 3rd place finish in the AFC North this season, or maybe worse.

LJ has improved as a passer for sure. I still wouldn't depend on his arm to lead my team to the promised land. If LJ were hobbled with an ankle sprain like Mahomes was dealing with a couple seasons ago, I would say put a fork in them, they're done. I think without his ability to take off and run he gets shut down as a passer. But.... he can take off and run. Better than any I've seen. So he gets to stand back there and pick his shots without the full blitz package. Not always but a lot.

[Dwinsgames]

Idk.... if Sanders is there at 21, I think he becomes the next Steelers rookie QB.

none of the top brass went to the Colorado pro day , they sent an area scout and he didnt speak to shadeur from what I have heard , he did speak momentarily with shilo

[ETL]

Shedeur Sanders is apparently visiting Pittsburgh on Thursday.

also if any QB is drafted in round 1, I don’t see them sitting behind Mason Rudolph long. I think they will be the started even before Kenny became the starter 3 seasons ago

[ETL]

That Rodgers interview on MacAfee’s show was … weird. He’s a weird dude. I don’t see a person who is looking forward to playing football. Maybe he may want to play because he thinks he will miss it. That is NOT someone we want as a QB.

I think we should just move on and not consider him anymore.

[pczach]

That Rodgers interview on MacAfee’s show was … weird. He’s a weird dude. I don’t see a person who is looking forward to playing football. Maybe he may want to play because he thinks he will miss it. That is NOT someone we want as a QB.

I think we should just move on and not consider him anymore.

Everything about that interview is why I can't stand Rodgers. He is acting like he is the Aaron Rodgers from 8 years ago. He is not anywhere near that guy anymore. He's arrogant. He's dismissive. He's all about himself...and always will be.

The team should be running away from this guy, or at the very least still taking their favorite quarterback in this draft and then decide whether they want Rodgers anywhere near this locker room. I wouldn't want him anywhere near it.

If it were me, I would withdraw my offer to him and move on to addressing the future of the quarterback position.

[ETL]

Everything about that interview is why I can't stand Rodgers. He is acting like he is the Aaron Rodgers from 8 years ago. He is not anywhere near that guy anymore. He's arrogant. He's dismissive. He's all about himself...and always will be.

The team should be running away from this guy, or at the very least still taking their favorite quarterback in this draft and then decide whether they want Rodgers anywhere near this locker room. I wouldn't want him anywhere near it.

If it were me, I would withdraw my offer to him and move on to addressing the future of the quarterback position.

was he always this weird? The only reason I was curious was that he was MVP … a lot. And I’m guessing he was just as egotistical and weird when he was winning MVPs. Maybe some cockiness is needed to be great. Who else would be crazy to get hit by 300 lb men that can run 4.6s.

in the interview I saw a guy that had no desire to play football and no desire to lead a team. It was all about him and his “personal” matters

[Mojouw]

Rodgers has always been a weird dude. And an arrogant/cocky/egomaniac/ pick your term kind of guy. But for MOST of his time in Green Bay his arm could cash the checks his ego wrote.

So it more than worked.

But now he can’t and it doesn’t seem he works out a ton to overcome his increasing limitations.

I’m not optimistic.

[Voice of Reason]

Everything about that interview is why I can't stand Rodgers. He is acting like he is the Aaron Rodgers from 8 years ago. He is not anywhere near that guy anymore. He's arrogant. He's dismissive. He's all about himself...and always will be.

The team should be running away from this guy, or at the very least still taking their favorite quarterback in this draft and then decide whether they want Rodgers anywhere near this locker room. I wouldn't want him anywhere near it.

If it were me, I would withdraw my offer to him and move on to addressing the future of the quarterback position.

And we let Field go because we were hoping to get this guy.

[El Kabong]

And we let Field go because we were hoping to get this guy.

We let Fields go because Fields isn't that good.

[Voice of Reason]

We let Fields go because Fields isn't that good.

Why? Because that savvy evaluator of QB's Mike Tomlin said so???

[ALLD]

Steelers also got rid of Johnny Unitas without good reason because their history of drafting good QBs is below average. They had Brad and Ben with Neil O'Donnell throwing away a SB who otherwise would have been considered a high quality systems QB. IS there anybody else?

The Steelers know LBers and WR and probably have more of them in the HoF than any other team.

It's not the Steelers turn to win, so don't get too excited when their draft is not as expected. The NFL turned into an entertainment business with main revenue flows from media. Fantasy Football and pervasive gambling have turned it into the OTC stock market.