Mel Kiper Jr. questions whether Steelers will take QB in first round amid Aaron Rodgers rumors

With rumors that quarterback Aaron Rodgers is nearing an agreement to sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2025, ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. considered whether the team should take a quarterback in the upcoming draft. Pittsburgh currently is thin on options at quarterback after Russell Wilson signed with the Giants and Justin Fields with the Jets.

Even if the Steelers sign Rodgers, they could take a quarterback to develop behind him for the next 1-2 seasons. Currently, Mason Rudolph is the top quarterback on the depth chart after signing a two-year deal this offseason.

“The Steelers, because of Aaron Rodgers getting to the Steelers eventually, don’t have to force it,” Kiper said. “They keep saying, ‘We’re comfortable with Mason Rudolph.’ Really? OK. In that division? But you gotta get better. Here’s the problem. Help Aaron Rodgers by one or two years by maybe adding a defensive lineman. …Or do you get that heir apparent?

“If you love that quarterback enough, you take the heir apparent. But if you don’t, you help Aaron Rodgers over this next year or two to get you to where you want to be. You’ve been a playoff team, but can you get to the playoffs and do some damage? So you gotta help Aaron Rodgers.”

Although Rodgers has yet to make a decision on whether he wants to play for the Steelers, owner Art Rooney said he is willing to wait “a while longer” for a deal to come to fruition. But with the draft coming up in just a few weeks, the team now has a decision to make.

ESPN’s Field Yates had the Steelers taking Dart with the No. 21 pick in the draft in his latest mock. Dart is coming off of a career season at Ole Miss, throwing for 4,279 yards and 29 touchdowns to six interceptions this past season.

Kiper also alluded to the possibility of Shedeur Sanders falling far enough for Pittsburgh to take him. The point being that it will need to be a quarterback the Steelers truly believe in for them to pull the trigger with the possibility of Aaron Rodgers in play.

“It’s gotta be a quarterback you feel strongly about,” Kiper said. “If it’s not Jaxson Dart, maybe Shedeur’s there. Tyler Shough from Louisville has gained a lot of momentum. It’ll be really interesting to see what the Steeler do with this pick. Do they help the quarterback or do they get Aaron Rodgers’ heir apparent?”

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