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ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. thinks Steelers could take quarterback in 1st round — if right one is available
Wednesday, March 19, 2025
In his most recent mockup, ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr. based his first-round selection for the Pittsburgh Steelers on the belief that they would have a veteran quarterback, presumably Aaron Rodgers, in place before the draft.
Kiper slotted Oregon defensive tackle Derrick Harmon to the Steelers with the No. 21 overall selection.
But if Rodgers doesn’t join the Steelers, and if the organization doesn’t retain Russell Wilson, Kiper thinks quarterback is in play.
He’s just not sure they will have one with a first-round grade available.
Kiper recently moved Mississippi’s Jaxson Dart into the first round behind Miami’s Cam Ward and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders. And he has moved Dart into the top 10, allocating him to the New Orleans Saints at No. 9.
“I think Dart is in play earlier than (No. 21),” Kiper said Wednesday on a conference call. “If he’s there, it would be really interesting. If you love him, you take him.”
The Steelers took a quarterback in the first round in 2022 when they drafted Pitt’s Kenny Pickett. That was viewed as a weak year for quarterbacks, and Pickett was traded two years later. This year’s crop also is considered light with top-flight passers. With the Steelers lacking depth on the defensive line, Kiper’s prediction of Harmon joining the team makes sense.
That means the Steelers would have to wait until the third round to select a quarterback. They lost their second-round pick in the trade for Seattle wide receiver DK Metcalf.
“If they don’t pull the trigger in the first round, they’ve got to wait until the third unless they move up,” Kiper said. “It’s going to be really interesting. If Dart is there (at No. 21), I say yeah, but I don’t think he will be.”
Kiper also could see the Steelers taking Louisville’s Tyler Shough in the first round, although he admitted that Shough is considered a second-day talent.
“He’s going to be in play in the second round,” Kiper said. “Could he be in the first? Maybe, it wouldn’t shock me.”
Coach Mike Tomlin spent Wednesday attending Alabama’s pro day where he had the chance to scout former Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe. Tomlin dined with Milroe and some of his Alabama teammates on Tuesday night.
Milroe is another second day possibility for the Steelers provided he is still on the board in the third round. Kiper said Milroe, who ran the 40-yard dash in under 4.5 seconds at the pro day, has flaws as a passer that would need to be corrected.
“He’s so inconsistent in intermediate areas,” he said. “He has passes that should be layups that he misfires. The Senior Bowl week he was inconsistent. But he had games where if he would have bottled that game and played consistently, then yes you’ve be talking about him in the mid-first. He just had erratic play. The talent is there, and he’s a great kid.”
Kiper didn’t expect the Steelers to be in a predicament where they are searching for a quarterback in the second week of free agency.
“I didn’t think (Justin) Fields would leave that building,” he said.
Wednesday, March 19, 2025
In his most recent mockup, ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr. based his first-round selection for the Pittsburgh Steelers on the belief that they would have a veteran quarterback, presumably Aaron Rodgers, in place before the draft.
Kiper slotted Oregon defensive tackle Derrick Harmon to the Steelers with the No. 21 overall selection.
But if Rodgers doesn’t join the Steelers, and if the organization doesn’t retain Russell Wilson, Kiper thinks quarterback is in play.
He’s just not sure they will have one with a first-round grade available.
Kiper recently moved Mississippi’s Jaxson Dart into the first round behind Miami’s Cam Ward and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders. And he has moved Dart into the top 10, allocating him to the New Orleans Saints at No. 9.
“I think Dart is in play earlier than (No. 21),” Kiper said Wednesday on a conference call. “If he’s there, it would be really interesting. If you love him, you take him.”
The Steelers took a quarterback in the first round in 2022 when they drafted Pitt’s Kenny Pickett. That was viewed as a weak year for quarterbacks, and Pickett was traded two years later. This year’s crop also is considered light with top-flight passers. With the Steelers lacking depth on the defensive line, Kiper’s prediction of Harmon joining the team makes sense.
That means the Steelers would have to wait until the third round to select a quarterback. They lost their second-round pick in the trade for Seattle wide receiver DK Metcalf.
“If they don’t pull the trigger in the first round, they’ve got to wait until the third unless they move up,” Kiper said. “It’s going to be really interesting. If Dart is there (at No. 21), I say yeah, but I don’t think he will be.”
Kiper also could see the Steelers taking Louisville’s Tyler Shough in the first round, although he admitted that Shough is considered a second-day talent.
“He’s going to be in play in the second round,” Kiper said. “Could he be in the first? Maybe, it wouldn’t shock me.”
Coach Mike Tomlin spent Wednesday attending Alabama’s pro day where he had the chance to scout former Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe. Tomlin dined with Milroe and some of his Alabama teammates on Tuesday night.
Milroe is another second day possibility for the Steelers provided he is still on the board in the third round. Kiper said Milroe, who ran the 40-yard dash in under 4.5 seconds at the pro day, has flaws as a passer that would need to be corrected.
“He’s so inconsistent in intermediate areas,” he said. “He has passes that should be layups that he misfires. The Senior Bowl week he was inconsistent. But he had games where if he would have bottled that game and played consistently, then yes you’ve be talking about him in the mid-first. He just had erratic play. The talent is there, and he’s a great kid.”
Kiper didn’t expect the Steelers to be in a predicament where they are searching for a quarterback in the second week of free agency.
“I didn’t think (Justin) Fields would leave that building,” he said.
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