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The Pittsburgh Steelers have a clear need at the quarterback position, regardless of what happens with Aaron Rodgers. However, a failure to land Rodgers would make Pittsburgh's need even more dire.
If Rodgers signs on, the Steelers will have a starter for at least one season, and maybe two, but we wouldn't project the future Hall of Famer to be around more than that. If Rodgers doesn't sign and opts to retire, the Steelers will be left with Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson, and while Steelers fans like Rudolph, he isn't a starter.
The Steelers were in prime position to draft Colorado's Shedeur Sanders OR Ole Miss product Jaxson Dart, but the team decided to pass on both and opted for Oregon defensive lineman Derrick Harmon, which addressed a big need.
But that decision did not sit well with ESPN's Mel Kiper, who ripped the Steelers for their decision to pass on Sanders.
"Who is going to play quarterback in Pittsburgh? If the Steelers sign Aaron Rodgers, this is less of an issue," Kiper Jr. wrote. "He would at least give them a 2025 starter. But I had issue with the Saints passing on Shedeur Sanders, so I have to point out the Steelers doing the same 12 picks later. Plus, Pittsburgh doesn't have a second-round pick, meaning it will be a long wait until No. 83 on Friday night.
Related: How many picks do Steelers have on Day 2?
"Derrick Harmon could bring some pressure inside for the Steelers, who have to think about the future with Cameron Heyward turning 36," he added. "But if they don't sign Rodgers, and they don't get lucky with the Day 2 quarterbacks, we're going to be examining this pick all season long."
While Dart went off the board to the New York Giants following a trade back into the first round, Sanders remains available, as does Jalen Milroe, who the Steelers reportedly had interest in during the pre-draft process.
However, it's highly unlikely they will fall to the Steelers' next pick, which comes in the third round at No. 83. The Steelers' second-round pick went to the Seattle Seahawks in the DK Metcalf trade.
The Steelers were already in a precarious situation at quarterback entering the draft, and the longer they wait to take one, the worse it becomes. At this point, when it comes to at least 2025, it's Rodgers or bust for Pittsburgh.
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