Pittsburgh

Steelers

Pre-draft visits aren’t everything, but the Steelers have historically drafted from their visit list at a strikingly high clip. Five of Pittsburgh’s seven draft picks last year were brought in for a visit. Golden was a Day One hopeful after going for 987 yards and nine scores at Texas last year. He then cemented his status as a first-round wideout at the NFL Combine with a 4.29 Forty. With George Pickens entering a contract year, the Steelers could be looking for his successor via the draft, even with DK Metcalf also on the roster.

The Steelers parted ways with Najee Harris, now a Charger, after four seasons and in March signed former Eagles RB Kenneth Gainwell to play alongside nominal lead back Jaylen Warren. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin complimented Gainwell for his success as a pass catcher in the flat, adding Gainwell has “a well-rounded game. He’s a capable and willing special teams player. Plays a lot on possession down ball.” Tomlin, however, said this year presents a “uniquely deep draft at [running back].” The team has completed pre-draft visits with a few high-profile backs: Ohio State’s tandem of TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins, along with Tennessee’s Dylan Sampson. Warren, who has averaged a healthy 5.4 yards per carry over his first three NFL seasons, could face significant competition for backfield touches in 2025. Pittsburgh holds the 21st pick in the draft.

Rooney pointed to “positive signs” that Rodgers could finally be ready to sign with Pittsburgh after flaming out with the Jets last season. He added that the team would not wait “forever” for Rodgers to make his final decision. Rodgers, entering his age-41 season, reportedly meshed well with Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith in a March visit to the team facility. With the Giants signing Russell Wilson, the Steelers are the last viable landing spot for the mercurial veteran. The Vikings could change that calculus if they don’t commit to JJ McCarthy as their Week 1 starter, however.

The Steelers are still waiting on a decision from Aaron Rodgers, who is far and away their best veteran option now that Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston are with the Giants and Justin Fields is with the Jets. The Steelers brought back Mason Rudolph on a two-year deal earlier this offseason, but Rudolph is little more than a reliable backup at this stage in his career. He’s appeared in 29 games while making 18 starts and has a career passing line of 4,615-28-20. If Rodgers doesn’t join the Steelers, other veteran quarterbacks still available include Drew Lock, Joe Flacco, and Carson Wentz, to name a few.

It’s a wordy way of saying, “Yes, we would consider a quarterback in round one.” The Steelers have been in quarterback purgatory ever since Ben Roethlisberger retired at the end of the 2021 season. While Tomlin is hoping Aaron Rodgers will get them over the hump in 2025, it goes without saying that the 41-year-old signal-caller isn’t the long-term solution at the position. The Steelers currently hold the No. 21 pick in this year’s draft and may need to make a Kenny Pickett-like reach if they hope to find their franchise quarterback in the first round. It’s no surprise that Tomlin won’t rule out the possibility, but whether the talent on the board is worthy of the pick is another question entirely.

Were it not for the Steelers’ courting of Rodgers, this would be a non-story, but as Garafolo worded it, Rodgers’ session with Metcalf was “another step in the process for Rodgers as he evaluates the Steelers’ interest in him.” At the NFL owners meeting over the weekend, Mike Tomlin was asked about a potential deadline for Rodgers but refused to put a hard cap on anything outside of saying that “training camp would kind of be a line of demarcation.” Things continue to be wait-and-see with Rodgers and the Steelers, but it wouldn’t be surprising if a deal was eventually reached between the two sides.

Specifically, Tomlin said that “training camp would kind of be a line of demarcation.” Reporters peppered Tomlin with inquiries about a decision-making deadline for Aaron Rodgers. Tomlin predictably stonewalled most questions but, per beat reporter Mike Kaboly, indicated that “it’s OK for Rodgers to miss OTAs and minicamp.”

Cousins’ no-trade clause gives him the ability to at least partially determine his own future, and there appears to be wiggle room in his request. Although he would prefer to wait until the draft’s conclusion, he has reportedly made clear that a mid-draft trade, after Day 2 concludes, could be agreeable. Salguero lists the Steelers, Browns and even the Vikings, in a backup role, as possible landing spots.

Moon contributes minimally but makes his mark regularly via special teams. His 85.2 PFF special teams grade ranks third among Steelers players and his six special teams tackles ranks fifth.

Rodgers’ recent visit with the Steelers reportedly went well. Smith joined Rodgers, and they “watched film together and chatted about their thoughts,” Anderson said. “From Pittsburgh’s viewpoint, I heard they walked away that day feeling really good about the vibe of the meeting, per a league source.” If he indeed signs with the Steelers, Rodgers would helm Smith’s massively run heavy offense, one that was 4.3 percent below its expected pass rate in 2024, the fourth-lowest rate in the NFL. It would be a far different situation than the one Rodgers, 41, had in New York, where he appointed offensive coaches, including OC Nathaniel Hackett.