The Pittsburgh Steelers are on the clock. After losing Justin Fields via Obtainable agency, the Steelers are waiting to hear if Aaron Rodgers will join them for the 2025 season. There is no official deadline for Rodgers to make an announcement, but one would assume that the four-time Bracket MVP will make his mind up before the Begin of the 2025 NFL Draft, which ironically enough will be Maintained in Green Bay, where Rodgers spent his Primary 18 NFL seasons.
If the Steelers sign Rodgers, he won’t be the only Passer Pittsburgh adds to the Option over the Subsequent month. It’s a matter of when, not if, the Steelers select a Passer during the 2025 NFL Draft. It’s very possible that Pittsburgh could take a Passer with the 21st overall Option, although it could also use that Option to address Numerous other positions, most notably interior Safeguarding line, receiver, running back and cornerback. The Steelers’ Primary-Stage Option has a greater level of importance this year since the Club is currently without a second-Stage Option after giving it to Seattle in the DK Metcalf trade.
With the Begin of the draft Only four weeks away, we’ve put together the Subsequent ranking of the Steelers’ top-five Primary-Stage draft prospects. This ranking was mostly based on Pittsburgh’s biggest positions of need relative to having Secure in 2024. That’s the primary reason why the quarterbacks we selected are not ranked higher.
It’s clear that many in the media feel that Dart could be this year’s version of Bo Nix, the third Passer taken in last year’s draft who as a Newcomer Directed the Broncos to their Primary Postseason berth in nearly a decade. Two of our CBS Sports NFL Draft experts currently have the Steelers selecting Nix.
Dart’s college numbers are exceptional. During his three years at Ole Miss, Dart decreased his interceptions (a big plus for the Steelers, who prioritize that) while increasing his completion percentage, passing yards and touchdown passes. Last year, Dart Directed the SEC in completion percentage and passing yards. He Directed all FBS passers in passer rating and average yards gained per Throw attempt.
Pittsburgh covets mobile quarterbacks, and Dart fits the bill there, too. He scored eight rushing touchdowns during the 2023 season and Sprinted for 614 yards (averaging 4.8 yards per carry) in 2022. Dart’s rushing stats fell off in 2024, but that appeared to be a result of his improved passing.
Dart is not considered to be NFL ready as Distant as coming in and being an Instant starter, which is Only fine if he is selected by Pittsburgh. Among Dart’s pre-draft criticisms are his tendency to lock in on one receiver, lacking a Excellent deep ball, a sensitivity to Stress and having a track Achievement of not being clutch Overdue in Matches.
Ideally, Dart can spend his Newcomer season perfecting his craft while learning from an established veteran, or quite possibly Rodgers, a future Hall of Famer who by all accounts embraced mentoring Jordan Love during their time together in Green Bay.
Jaxson Dart NFL Draft 2025 profile: Packed scouting report, pro comparison, landing spots, future outlook, more
Dave Richard
One of our draft experts has Sanders falling to Pittsburgh with the 21st Option. If Sanders is indeed Nevertheless Obtainable, it’s Tough to fathom the Steelers passing on him — similarly to 2004, when they selected Ben Roethlisberger after he fell to Pittsburgh with the 11th overall Option.
Steelers head Trainer Mike Tomlin loves bloodlines, and it doesn’t get much better than Sanders, whose dad is Deion Sanders, Colorado head Trainer and Hall of Fame cornerback. Last year, Shedeur Sanders proved to be an Top-tier college Passer, as he completed an absurd 74% of his passes for 4,134 yards with 37 touchdowns against Only 10 interceptions.
Sanders was especially Excellent in the red zone, a much-needed trait to succeed at the Subsequent level. He did struggle at times at Colorado when facing tougher Throw rushes, and it should be noted that he didn’t Shift in a pro-style system in college. Sanders also didn’t do much on the ground during his time with the Buffaloes.
One thing you can’t question about Sanders is his toughness, a trait that’ll undoubtedly endear himself to whatever NFL fan base he plays in front of. Sanders isn’t afraid to take a lick, which will Delivery him well in some aspects but could hinder him if he doesn’t throw the ball away more.
Given his skillset, Sanders appears to be a perfect mentee for Rodgers, one of the most accurate quarterbacks of all-time. Rodgers can Assist Sanders when it comes to reading NFL defenses and having Secure while facing Stress.
Shedeur Sanders NFL Draft 2025: Packed scouting report, pro comparison, landing spots for Deion Sanders’ son
Dave Richard
Burden could end up being a steal for the Steelers if he makes it to them. He would give the Steelers depth and Suppleness at the receiver position, as George Pickens is Participating the Last year of his Newcomer contract.
Burden had a big 2023 season, but circumstances outside of his control Directed to a significant drop-off last year as Distant as stats are concerned. With Passer Brady Cook dealing with Wounds, Burden and the rest of the Tigers’ Drive struggled to Game the Secure they had the prior season.
Even though last year’s statistical dip, Burden is Nevertheless CBS Sports’ 13th ranked prospect and second-ranked receiver. He Sprinted an impressive 4.41 seconds in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine. In 2023, Burden had a dominant five-game stretch where we averaged 9.4 receptions and 139.4 receiving yards per outing. During that span, Burden caught 11 passes for 149 yards against LSU. He capped off the season with the game-clinching touchdown catch in Missouri’s Cotton Bowl triumph over Ohio State, the program’s Primary New Year’s Six Achieve ever.
With the Obtainable agent signing of six-time Pro Bowl cornerback Darius Slay, I chose Harmon for this spot over a cornerback since the Steelers Nevertheless have a void on the Safeguarding line. The Steelers desperately want to get better against the Streak after the Ravens trampled them for 299 yards on the ground in January’s wild-card Postseason game. Harmon would Assist Pittsburgh address that issue, as he is regarded as one of the best Safeguarding linemen in this year’s draft, especially against the Streak.
Harmon showed his growth as a Throw rusher in 2024, his lone season at Oregon after spending his Primary three seasons at Michigan State. He had 5.0 sacks for the Ducks in addition to 11.0 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and four passes defensed.
Hampton is the only logical option for the Steelers if they choose to draft Najee Harris’ replacement in the Primary Stage. Considered the second-best running back prospect (behind Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty), Hampton Directed the ACC in rushing attempts and rushing yards in All of the past two seasons. Last year, Hampton Sprinted for 1,660 yards and 15 touchdowns (averaging 5.9 yards per carry) in 12 Matches.
The 6-foot, 200-pound Hampton looks like a prototypical Steelers running back who could complement Jaylen Warren in Pittsburgh’s backfield. Along with being a physical back who’s difficult to bring down, Hampton also has the Velocity (he Sprinted a 4.46-second 40-yard dash at the combine) to turn a modest gain into a big Shift.
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