The Steelers got here into the draft with a necessity at quarterback. Positive, they have been (and nonetheless are) in talks with veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers, however nothing has been signed or selected that entrance. Even when it had been, Rodgers is 41 years outdated and is three full years faraway from enjoying the elite degree of ball we’ve come to affiliate him with. Securing a high passing prospect would nonetheless be a wise transfer if Rodgers is on the roster as a result of it might give them a pupil to be taught and develop behind him.
Pittsburgh did find yourself taking a quarterback within the draft, however that choice wouldn’t come till late into Day 3, when Will Howard was chosen within the sixth spherical. Following the departures of one-year leases Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, Howard joins a bunch that accommodates former Steelers backup Mason Rudolph and former Dolphins backup Skylar Thompson. Each have seen time as starters in damage substitute conditions of their careers, and whereas Rudolph has fared higher in his alternatives, neither encourage a lot confidence heading into the 2025 season.
This begs the query: why didn’t Pittsburgh take a swing on a quarterback earlier? Or, in the event that they knew they have been going to attend to pick out one, why, after they noticed Sanders freefalling spherical after spherical, did they not take a flyer on his apparent potential?
I can definitely see the place they appreciated the worth they have been getting for versatile Oregon defensive deal with Derrick Harmon as a possible eventual substitute for Cameron Heyward or the hole-filling potential of third-round Iowa rusher Kaleb Johnson, who might compete with Jaylen Warren for some critical carries. However as soon as the fourth spherical rolled round and Sanders, a projected first- or second-round decide, was nonetheless round, how essential was it so as to add Jack Sawyer to mix in with a bunch that already accommodates T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig? Does Sawyer add extra worth to that group that Sanders would’ve to a place that solely contained Rudolph on the time? The Steelers might want to hope so.
In the end, Fowler tells us that the crew was “snug with (Sanders) as a distributing level guard sort,” however they couldn’t all agree that he was “a slam dunk decide.” It’s true {that a} knock on Sanders was his reliance on screens, fast passes, and checkdowns — solely 23.7 p.c of his completions at Colorado have been on throws over 10 yards.
Regardless, his enjoying model helped him to complete fourth within the nation in yards per recreation whereas throwing 37 touchdowns to 10 interceptions. Even with three additional video games on his schedule, Howard didn’t encroach upon Sanders’ yardage or landing numbers. However the crew was undecided on whether or not Sanders was well worth the fourth-round flyer, and that led him to his new house in Cleveland.
The crew continues to be getting a quarterback who had an ideal completion share (73.0) whereas throwing the ball a bit extra downfield (9.5 yards per try) and having a formidable touchdown-interception ratio. They’ll simply need to hope that Howard (and Sawyer) contribute sufficient to erase any doubt of the choice they made.
