The Pittsburgh Steelers have gone 10-7 and made the AFC playoffs in the previous two seasons despite cycling through five quarterbacks. But their QB situation hasn't looked so bad in a while after passing on selecting Shedeur Sanders at No. 21 overall in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
The Steelers' depth chart is thin after they decided not to re-sign either of their two starters from last season, Justin Fields and Russell Wilson. As of now, Pittsburgh's No. 1 QB is former long-time backup Mason Rudolph with Skylar Thompson as the No. 2.
The won-loss result and ensuing quick wild-card round exits were the same with Fields-Wilson in 2024 and with Rudolph, Kenny Pickett and Mitchell Trubisky in 2023. But they can't go in thinking they will either match or improve that record by singing Rudolph again.
There are still some notable veteran QBs available on the market and the Steelers also have the rest of their draft picks, from Rounds 3 through 7 to add a rookie passer. Here's exploring their best remaining options minus Sanders:
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Sign Aaron Rodgers
Where is Rodgers? Are the Steelers still interested? Are they just letting him do his offseason retreat thing before signing him and bringing him for workouts that count? Those are still questions without answers because of the radio silence on the two parties, when it was once reported not long ago Rodgers, 41, would sign to play for Mike Tomlin.
No Sanders hints that the Steelers are very much in play to still get Rodgers and he would easily be their seasoned upgrade over Rudolph to keep up their winning ways with enough offense to complement the defense.
Trade for or sign Kirk Cousins
The Falcons are holding on to Cousins as their unhappy demoted starter to back up 2024 first-rounder Michael Penix Jr. They need to soon somehow let Cousins move on to explore one more potential No. 1 job in Pittsburgh or elsewhere.
Cousins, 36, still could end up reuniting with his former Vikings offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski and the Browns ahead of Pickett and Joe Flacco should those AFC North rivals pass on drafting a QB. But the Steelers would also make sense, given Cousins' top asset of a big arm would mesh with the size-speed receiving threats of DK Metcal and George Pickens. Even with that recent torn Achilles', like Rodgers, he can still get the ball downfield to anyone at his advance age, like Rodgers.
Draft Jalen Milroe
Fields' running is gone to the Jets, putting this Alabama product in play for that team as a development dual threat quarterback. But the Steelers still can covet a mobile big-armed QB with some dynamic rushing skills for Arthur Smith's system. The better Smith QBs of the past are more in line with Milroe than Cousins, able to deliver out of the pocket either when extending pass plays or taking off and running.
Milroe can still be on the board for the Steelers' next pick, which is for now No. 83 overall in the third round.
Draft Quinn Ewers
The Steelers have been linked plenty to Ewers before the draft, like Milroe, before the Sanders buzz started taking over late. Ewers is less of.runner coming out of Texas, but can still move around well with his legs to maximize his arm, making him a good enough fit for Smith. He also should be in play for Pittsburgh's third rounder.
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Draft Tyler Shough
This is the third QB who should intrigue the Steelers most for Days 2 and 3. This Louisville riser, also can deliver the needed vertical passing to lift Metcalf and Pickens. He also can give Rudolph a strong competition for the immediate starting job with much more athletic qualities, standing out well over Sanders in that area.
Shough (6-5, 225 pounds)_ should remind Smith plenty of his most successful QB while working with the Titans, Ryan Tannehill (6-4, 221 pounds) given their similar frames.
Draft Will Howard
There are simliar traits Howard (6-4, 236 pounds) shares with Shough and Tannehill with some helpful athleticism at times. He has the extra bonus of leading a team to a chmpaionship by delivering clutch big pass plays when needed, playing well off the defense and running game while at Ohio State.
Those are the six best options for the Steelers to improve from Rudolph and Thompson, who all now fit them better than Sanders would have.