The Pittsburgh Steelers are in the market for help at the quarterback position. The organization is still weighing its options when it comes to re-signing either Justin Fields or Russell Wilson, and Team President Art Rooney II seemed confident that the franchise would strike a deal with one of the two quarterbacks. Whether or not the team brings back one of its starters from 2024, the team will still need help at the position for depth purposes, and that could mean re-signing backup Kyle Allen or targeting a rookie in the 2025 NFL Draft.
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Steelers General Manager Omar Khan holds a cell phone up to his ear while taking a call.
The only quarterback currently on the roster in Pittsburgh is Skylar Thompson, and that doesn't provide a very promising outlook for the 2025 season. It should be expected for the organization to do extensive research on some of the quarterbacks in the 2025 rookie class, but it is unlikely they use a premier pick on the position.
Look for the organization to try to land a quarterback in the middle rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft, and media pundit Colin Cowherd believes the Steelers should be enticed by former Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard.
"Also, I think, keep your eye on Pittsburgh in the second, third round, Riley Leonard. A little like Justin Fields. Athletic, big, nice arm, young. I think Pittsburgh's in the market to draft a quarterback. It's not a great quarterback year, but in the second, third round, you may get a little value in Riley Leonard."
There isn't a ton of value in the 2025 quarterback class, but Pittsburgh may be able to land a diamond in the rough in the later rounds. Leonard is an intriguing prospect with some great athleticism, but his arm-talent has been questioned by some. He led Notre Dame to the National Championship during the 2024 season, but he should be considered a serious project by any team looking to select him.
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Riley Leonard looks to pass during a practice for the 2025 Senior Bowl.
Leonard began his college career at Duke, and he transferred to Notre Dame during the 2024 offseason. He was relied upon a lot as a runner during his time with the Fighting Irish, which is likely why he was compared to Fields by Cowherd. The comparison isn't wrong, but Fields is a much better passer as Leonard struggled with accuracy during his college career.
The quarterback is projected to go on day three of the NFL Draft, so the Steelers selecting him in the second or third round like Cowherd proposed would be an extremely aggressive move. He raised his draft stock during the 2025 Senior Bowl, but it isn't likely he will be off the board before the third day of the NFL Draft.
Leonard finished his college career with over 7,000 passing yards and 45 touchdowns. He completed just over 63 percent of his passes, and that number would be higher if it weren't for consistent accuracy issues. Those issues were on full display during the first half of the National Championship against Ohio State.
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Will Howard celebrates a strong run during the National Championship against Notre Dame.
Steelers Have Plenty Of Quarterbacks To Choose From In The 2025 NFL Draft Class
The only quarterbacks that seem to be a shoe-in to go in the first round of the 2025 Draft are Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders. Jaxon Dart, Will Howard, Jalen Milroe, or Leonard are more realistic targets for Pittsburgh. Dart's draft stock has been sporadic as league executives can't come to a consensus in how they view the quarterback. Milroe is a raw talent with a ton of athleticism, and Howard has been rising up draft boards since winning the National Championship.
There is no need for the Steelers to be aggressive and reach for one of these quarterbacks, as they should be able to have one fall to them later in the draft. The need at the position is there for Pittsburgh, but there is no need to be desperate once the 2025 NFL Draft rolls around.
Which rookie quarterback would you want to see in Pittsburgh? Let us know in the comments below!
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