So far through two days of the 2025 NFL Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers have added a powerful force along the defensive line in Oregon defensive lineman Derrick Harmon in the first round, and a perfect fit in offensive coordinator Arthur Smith’s rushing attack in Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson in the third round.
Now, the focus shifts to Day 3, where the Steelers have four picks across the board: No. 123 in the fourth round, No. 156 in the fifth round, No. 185 in the sixth round, and No. 229 in the seventh round.
Across those four picks, the Steelers have some holes to continue to plug, including safety. They need to add more depth along the defensive line, possibly cornerback and receiver, and certainly quarterback, too.
For Pro Football Focus’ Max Chadwick, the Steelers’ biggest Day 3 need out of all the holes to fill centers on quarterback, period.
“The Steelers made one of the biggest moves of the offseason by trading for wide receiver DK Metcalf and handing him a $150 million contract. The problem is that they don’t know who will throw him the ball,” Chadwick writes regarding the Steelers’ biggest need on Day 3. “The plan could be for an aging veteran like Aaron Rodgers or Kirk Cousins to take over, but Pittsburgh needs to find the future at the position — and fast.
“It would be hard to pass up a potential franchise quarterback like Shedeur Sanders, although the Steelers have done so twice already.”
Quarterback is certainly a need for the Steelers, considering they like to have four quarterbacks on the roster and only have two currently. But from the sound of it, based on team president and owner Art Rooney II’s comments Friday night on Steeler Nation Radio, 41-year-old quarterback Aaron Rodgers may give the word to the Steelers soon and seems destined to be the starting quarterback for the Black and Gold in 2025.
If that happens, the Steelers will no longer need a quarterback who can start in 2025, considering Mason Rudolph would be the QB2.
Rooney also stated that if the Steelers were to draft a quarterback, it would be a guy who could sit all season and develop behind the scenes, which could narrow the list down further.
But if Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, whom the Steelers have passed on twice now, is on the board at No. 123 in the fourth round Saturday, the Steelers have to seriously consider it due to value and talent alone. We’ll see how the board shakes out.
Right now, though, it seems like people are all over the map on what the biggest need for the Black and Gold is on Day 3.
