Steelers predicted to draft a quarterback, but not Shedeur Sanders, in case Aaron Rodgers retires

The Pittsburgh Steelers are one of the teams expected to take a quarterback at some point during the 2025 NFL Draft.

They're currently sitting with just Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson. They're still hoping to get Aaron Rodgers in free agency, but that deal can't seem to get over the finish line.

That's part of the reason the Steelers have been linked to Shedeur Sanders with the No. 21 overall pick, if he slides there.

But a new mock draft has Pittsburgh choosing a different college star at QB.

SI's Noah Strackbein has the Steelers taking Michigan DT Kenneth Grant with that No. 21 pick.

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That leaves the No. 83 pick for quarterback in Strackbein's Thursday morning mock draft.

There, he has Pittsburgh take Ohio State's national champion QB, Will Howard.

"The Steelers need a quarterback, and Howard's name is one that's been floated around for months," Strackbein writes. "Well, he's not Shedeur Sanders or Jaxson Dart, but he's a name the team has shown plenty of interest in, who has some upside that remains untapped."

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Howard then becomes the QB of the future in Pittsburgh, maybe.

"Howard joins the Steelers, who still believe Aaron Rodgers will be their quarterback in 2025," Strackbein said. "The hope is he develops enough in a year to compete for the starting job in 2026 against a likely first-round quarterback that they draft then. But for now, he's a backup and the next rookie quarterback in Pittsburgh."

Howard used his one year at OSU after starring at Kansas State to turn himself into a champion and an NFL-level quarterback.

Now, he's set to get his next step, and it might be a surprising trip to Pittsburgh.

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