Steelers Face Quarterback Uncertainty Heading into 2025
The Pittsburgh Steelers are entering the 2025 NFL season with a major question mark at the most important position on the field: quarterback. Currently, the only two signal-callers on the roster are Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson, neither of whom has proven to be a reliable long-term starter. This leaves Pittsburgh in a precarious situation as the offseason continues and the pressure mounts to find a capable leader under center.
For a while, speculation surrounded the possibility of the Steelers making a splash by acquiring veteran Aaron Rodgers. However, that idea seems to be fading fast. Free agency began over a month ago, and there’s still no deal in place. With Rodgers still tied to the New York Jets and no movement suggesting a trade is imminent, hopes of him coming to Pittsburgh are quickly diminishing.
As a result, attention is now turning toward the 2025 NFL Draft, where the Steelers may look to secure their quarterback of the future. According to Luke Easterling of Athlon Sports, Pittsburgh could be eyeing a bold move — trading up in the draft to secure a top prospect. Easterling predicts the team could strike a deal with the Chicago Bears to move up to the No. 10 overall pick.
The target? Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders — son of NFL Hall of Famer and current Colorado head coach Deion Sanders. Sanders has drawn attention as one of the most poised and polished passers in the draft class. Known for his leadership, strong arm, and football IQ, Sanders could be exactly the type of player Pittsburgh needs to stabilize its quarterback situation.
Easterling suggests the Steelers might send their 2025 third-round pick and a 2026 second-rounder to Chicago in exchange for the 10th pick. That move would allow Pittsburgh to leap ahead of other QB-needy teams and lock in a player with a high floor and pro-ready skill set. “The Steelers… just might be desperate enough,” Easterling wrote, emphasizing how Sanders could fit the pressure-filled role of leading a franchise steeped in history.
Pittsburgh has long prided itself on a strong organizational identity built around defense, physicality, and consistency at the quarterback position — most recently embodied by Ben Roethlisberger. Since Big Ben’s retirement, however, the franchise has struggled to find a true successor. Sanders could be the next chapter in that lineage, bringing talent and a calm demeanor that’s needed in such a demanding market.
Drafting Shedeur Sanders would also give Pittsburgh an exciting young playmaker to build around, alongside weapons like George Pickens and Najee Harris. It would signal a shift toward a more dynamic offense — one that could evolve from its current uncertainty into a serious contender in the AFC North.
As the 2025 NFL Draft approaches, all eyes will be on whether the Steelers make a bold move. With Rodgers likely off the table and few other appealing options in free agency, trading up for Sanders might be the team’s best chance at securing a cornerstone quarterback for years to come.
