The Pittsburgh Steelers have been lacking an elite quarterback for quite some time. This trend continued in the 2024 season, and despite head coach Mike Tomlin’s comments, it seems unlikely they will find one in 2025 either.
Russell Wilson, who started 11 games for the team this year, ranked 14th in passer rating, 26th in QBR, and 15th in adjusted net yards per attempt. Justin Fields, who played the first six games, placed 19th, 27th, and 25th in those categories.
This performance falls short of expectations. Unfortunately, the Steelers have limited options for improvement. The free-agent market is sparse, and the 2025 NFL Draft class appears weak, particularly for teams like the Steelers, who are picking 21st.
As a result, some have suggested the Steelers consider a bold move: intentionally underperforming in 2025 to secure a higher draft pick and a chance at a premier quarterback.
The 2026 NFL Draft is anticipated to feature strong quarterback prospects, including Arch Manning from Texas, Drew Allar from Penn State, and Nico Iamaleava from Tennessee.
Should the Steelers consider tanking the 2025 season or trading key players for draft assets, as some fans propose?
Tomlin dismisses this idea. During his end-of-season press conference at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex, he noted, “Lamar [Jackson] wasn’t taken at the top of the draft. [Jalen] Hurts wasn’t a first-round pick. So, I don’t necessarily agree with that notion.”
He raises valid points. Over the past five years, seven quarterbacks have been named All-Pro: Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, Dak Prescott, Patrick Mahomes, Jalen Hurts, Aaron Rodgers, and Tom Brady.
Brady was famously selected in the sixth round by the Patriots and then signed by the Buccaneers. Prescott was a fourth-round pick, Hurts a second-round pick, and Jackson was the last pick of the first round. Rodgers was chosen at 24th overall.
Moreover, Kansas City moved up from 27th to 10th to select Mahomes in 2017, while the Bills moved from 12th to seventh to draft Allen in 2018.
None of these seven were chosen by teams picking in the top 10 initially. Joe Burrow, the leading passer in 2024, was the first overall pick in 2022, but second overall Jared Goff was acquired via trade, and former first-rounders Baker Mayfield, Geno Smith, and Sam Darnold were all signed as free agents.
Thus, among the All-Pro quarterbacks of the last five years, and the top five passers in 2024, only one was obtained through a team’s initial top draft position; the rest were either traded for, signed as free agents, or acquired through trades for higher draft spots.
However, this may provide little comfort to frustrated Steelers fans staring down the reality of limited options for 2025.
