While the Pittsburgh Steelers are in need of a quarterback, they would much rather sign one of their previous options for 2024 than draft a long-term option. The class of 2025 is relatively weak at that position, and both of the projected stars of the group are expected to be selected in the top 10 at the absolute worst. However, they could still try and develop a later-round selection and get value that way while building up the core of the team. The better the entire squad is, the easier it is for any quarterback to develop.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers General Manager Omar Khan picks up the phone in the team's war room during the 2023 NFL Draft weekend.
Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that the Steelers are interested in quite a few prospects that are expected to be selected on the final day of the 2025 NFL Draft.
"Among the other prospects who intrigue them are Louisville’s Tyler Shough (6-foot-5, 219 pounds), Riley Leonard of Notre Dame (6-foot-4, 216 pounds), Kyle McCord of Syracuse (6-foot-3, 218 pounds), Cam Miller of North Dakota State (6-foot-1, 215 pounds) and Indiana’s Kurtis Rourke (6-foot-4, 220 pounds)," said Dulac."
Tyler Shough has been reportedly flying up draft boards with his NFL Scouting Combine performance. He had great stats in his final year with the Louisville Cardinals, as he threw for almost 3,200 yards and 23 touchdowns with just six interceptions. He seemingly has a lot of potential, but there is just one problem: Shough is already 25 years old.
Do the Steelers really want to make the same mistake they did with Kenny Pickett and overdraft a player that had plenty of time to adjust and figure out college defenses? Teams typically don't draft older players to be projects. Shough may be seen as a backup option, but not a guy that a team would hope to develop long-term.
The next option is more of a Justin Fields comparison, as Riley Leonard was able to use his dual-threat abilities to lead the Notre Dame Fighting Irish to a National Championship appearance. He still has a lot of work to do before he's ready to throw a pass in the NFL, but he could spend some time behind a veteran passer and maybe even see some snaps as a gadget player like Fields did in 2024.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' Justin Fields runs with the football during Week 12 against the Cleveland Browns.
If Leonard can spend a few years learning how to throw well while keeping up his high-end rushing ability, he could be a sneaky pick late in the draft. Even though he will be 23 in September, he needs to be willing to sit and learn for a while if he wants any chance of being in the NFL and not end up as a UFL backup.
Kyle McCord managed to break multiple records in his first and only season with the Syracuse Orange. Obviously, he needed the change of scenery to thrive, as he originally came from the Ohio State Buckeyes. Even with his sudden surge, his problems in Columbus, Ohio could be a red flag.
Ohio State has managed to recruit elite receiver after elite receiver, yet McCord still struggled. His numbers were similar to Shough's in Louisville, even though he had an army of first-round talent to throw to, including the favorite to be the Steelers' first-round pick. Did Syracuse's system unlock something in McCord, or did he just benefit from a softer strength of schedule?
Rick Osentoski / USA Today
Buckeyes' Emeka Egbuka stands with his hands on his hips during a home game in Ohio.
While Cam Miller played in the FCS, there are still some high-stake games that he had to show up for, and he certainly did. He led the North Dakota State Bison to the FCS Championship in the 2024 season. The dual-threat option appears to be more polished as a passer than Leonard, which should make it easier for him to develop, either as a backup or as a starter.
FCS players can still thrive in the NFL, like when Carson Wentz had an MVP-caliber season in 2017, even though he also came out of North Dakota State. Miller may not be as polished as Wentz was then, but a little seasoning should help the fifth-year senior get on track in the NFL.
Steelers May Make Pickett-Like Mistake With Another Prospect
Like with Shough, Kurtis Rourke may be a little too old to develop as a prospect. He is currently 24, and he will turn 25 in October. There are many questions on why the Steelers would want to go back to the aging rookie quarterback well. Even with his age and stats, they seemingly like Rourke for one key detail.
Jacob Spudich / The Indiana Daily Student
Kurtis Rourke takes a snap for the Indiana Hosiers in a game against the Washington Huskies.
Rourke played through the 2024 season with numerous injuries, including a torn ACL and a broken thumb. Whether it was smart for him to play through that or not all season long, he still put up decent stats in his final year in college. That toughness is something that many NFL teams admire, but that injury history could make him fall in the draft. Maybe the Steelers pick him up as an undrafted free agent.
What do you think about all the late-round quarterbacks that the Steelers are interested in? Let us know in the comments.
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