Steelers general manager Omar Khan saw a market inefficiency at the veteran quarterback position, took advantage of it, and helped lead the Steelers to the playoffs.
The only problem: Pittsburgh faltered offensively down the stretch, slipped into the postseason and barely managed to generate any effectiveness with the ball in the wild-card loss to the Ravens.
Russell Wilson and Justin Fields had a combined cap hit of less than $5 million in 2024. They are now free agents. And the Steelers are slated to pick in a 2025 quarterback draft class.
Let’s map out quarterback ideas for the Steelers, a franchise that now finds itself in a challenging situation at the most vital position in the game.
Veteran quarterback market
Sign Sam Darnold
A year ago, this wouldn’t have made sense. But Darnold is really the only viable potential starter on the veteran quarterback market: the Vikings’ current starter, who has enjoyed a career renaissance with Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and company within Kevin O’Connell’s system.
Of course, the former No. 3 overall pick has set career highs across the board and is still only 27 years old. If the Steelers want a reasonably long-term solution at quarterback, Darnold, on paper, is attractive.
The situation in Minnesota couldn’t be much better. Above-average offensive line, time-tested system, arguably the best receiver in football, a stellar No. 2 wide receiver, and one of the most talented pass-catching tight ends in football. Can the Steelers replicate that? Or would you believe that Darnold has matured enough to be able to transcend his offensive situation? Those are fundamental questions.
Oh yeah, and there’s this: The Vikings could re-sign Darnold to serve as a classic bridge to 2024 first-round pick JJ McCarthy. Or would that complicate the quarterback dynamic in Minnesota too much?
I don’t necessarily think Darnold is now a lock to provide near-elite-level productivity on any other team, including the Steelers, but Pittsburgh would be wise to do due diligence on Darnold if he’s available in March.
Re-sign with Justin Fields
This idea probably wouldn’t excite many in Pittsburgh, but Fields will only be 26 years old in 2025. We are now well aware of his passing limitations, however, he has proven to be one of the most dangerous rushing quarterbacks in the NFL. In his brief tryout in 2024, Fields completed nearly 66% of his passes with five touchdowns and one interception. While those classic statistics are not perfect indicators of the quarterback’s play, they certainly do not suggest that he has been ineffective to start the year.
To avoid entering next season with two new quarterbacks, Fields would likely be priced cheaply and, in theory, given a longer leash as a starter with a more college-style, RPO, quarterback run-based offense. if you sign. Another agreement with the Steelers.
Select Alabama’s Jalen Milroe in Round 1/2
Milroe will be a lightning rod during the NFL Draft process. Remember what I tell you. Some will hate him as a prospect. Others will be tempted by the quarterback he could become after his development in the NFL. He is clearly raw as a passer. He is also clearly a player who is improving in that regard. And he’s a tremendous athlete: think part Jalen Hurts and part Lamar Jackson. That kind of explosion and cutting ability in a tough frame.
After a huge 9.1% big-throw rate in 2023, Milroe’s first season as Alabama’s starter, he wasn’t as electric of a passer, but he took better care of the ball, with one less turnover-worthy play than a season ago in almost 40 more attempts.
Bad streaks can be ugly with Milroe. Dual threat talent comes up frequently and is a nightmare for defenses. He averaged 6.3 yards per carry in college with 19 runs of 15 or more yards and forced a running back to commit 71 missed tackles in 321 attempts to carry the rock.
Milroe would be something of a project, though, and could theoretically initially get his legs in Pittsburgh as he acclimates to the speed and complexity of NFL coverages.
Select Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart later
Now, of course, it’s extraordinarily rare for a club to draft a quarterback outside of Round 1 with the expectation that he’ll start as a rookie, so this idea probably has to come with some kind of stopgap veteran like Jacoby Brissett or, ironically, Mason Rudolph.
Dart was the 13th overall drafted quarterback in the 2021 recruiting class, and after a quick transfer from USC to Ole Miss, he was one of the SEC’s most prolific passers during three seasons as the Rebels’ full-time starter. . He set new college records with 69.3 completion percent, 4,279 yards, 29 touchdowns and an average of 10.8 yards per attempt.
His 7.1% big throw rate is the highest among quarterback prospects in this class.
And Dart has NFL tools. Reasonably athletic. Strong arms. A lot of hits on the field for Ole Miss in his career. The glaring problem with his draft profile is Lane Kiffin’s offensive system that prominently features vertical routes from spread looks when he’s not peppering a defense with a litany of quick screens. There is nothing wrong with those components in college. But Dart wasn’t as trained as most quarterbacks when it came to reading defenses and throwing to the intermediate level through layers of coverage.
Select Syracuse’s Kyle McCord later
In that 2021 recruiting class with Dart was McCord, a few spots ahead, at No. 8; The inherent talent is undoubtedly there with McCord, and he came to the forefront at Syracuse in 2024 after transferring from Ohio State.
McCord led the nation in passing yards (4,779) in the nation’s most pass-happy offense. He threw 34 touchdowns with 12 interceptions, and five of those picks came in a game against Pittsburgh. And he loves to let that sweep the field. McCord showed the ability to hit those deep shots, often with anticipation and quality ball placement. However, there are limitations. McCord wouldn’t bring much athleticism to the position. The out-of-the-pocket creativity we see so often in today’s NFL? It won’t be an element of McCord’s game in the NFL. His feet are slow in most scenarios.
But the talent to pass the pocket? Absolutely there.
