Pittsburgh Steelers DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

The Pittsburgh Steelers have selected Ohio State quarterback Will Howard with the 185th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Howard looked like a polished passer at times last season, leading the Buckeyes to a national championship. He pairs his good mechanics and accuracy with the mobility needed to make plays on the run. As a senior, he ultimately led the Big 10 in completion percentage (73%), passing yards (4,010), and passing touchdowns (35). This selection is particularly intriguing because Howard could have a chance to compete for the starting quarterback job. Pittsburgh's quarterback room currently features Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson, neither of whom has extensive starting experience at the NFL level.

Though there is good value in a deep running back class in this year's NFL draft, Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said he believes Jaylen Warren can be the team's top running back after the departure of 2021 first-rounder Najee Harris in free agency to the Los Angeles Chargers. "I certainly feel comfortable with his ability to do so," Tomlin said of Warren. "He got hampered by injury some in 2024. He appears to be ready to answer that. I know he's really excited about his opportunity. I don't think myself or anyone within the organization question his talents in regards to managing the ability to manage potentially that role." The 26-year-old signed his one-year, $5.35 million restricted free-agent tender on Tuesday, but that doesn't mean the two sides won't work out a long-term extension. Warren's 2025 fantasy value will depend on whether the Steelers add a RB in this week's NFL draft.

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren has signed a one-year, $5.3 million deal with the organization on Tuesday. Warren signed as a restricted free agent as he enters his final year before free agency. Warren figures to be the lead back for the first time in his professional career this upcoming season. Najee Harris has departed via free agency, which opens a door for Warren to be the No. 1 back in this offense. It's possibly that the Steelers do draft a running back in the upcoming NFL Draft. Nonetheless, Warren should get the first chance to be the lead back in 2025. Last season, Warren finished with 511 rushing yards and 310 receiving yards in 15 games as the primary backup in Pittsburgh. The assumption is that his fantasy value is going to rise with a move to the lead back spot.

When asked if the situation surrounding free-agent quarterback Aaron Rodgers will have any effect on what the Pittsburgh Steelers do in this week's NFL draft, head coach Mike Tomlin said, "It does not." "All options are on the table to acquire those last two [quarterbacks]," general manager Omar Khan said. The Steelers plan on taking four QBs into offseason workouts, but right now they only have Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson. Pittsburgh has the No. 21 overall pick in the first round on Thursday night, and it's very possible they'll select a signal-caller in that spot, especially if Colorado's Shedeur Sanders falls all the way down to them. Taking Sanders wouldn't necessarily prevent the Steelers from signing Rodgers to be their starting QB in 2025, though. While signs had been pointing to Rodgers signing with Pittsburgh a while ago, retirement also remains on the table.

In addition to saying he hasn't ruled out retiring this offseason, free-agent quarterback Aaron Rodgers said on The Pat McAfee Show on Thursday that "I'll play for $10 million." Rodgers also said next week's NFL draft won't have any impact on his plans. "I told every single one of the teams I talked to, it ain't about the money," the 41-year-old three-time MVP said. He confirmed he's had conversations with the Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants and Pittsburgh Steelers. The Vikes and Giants have moved on, but Steelers president Art Rooney II said the team was "hearing that he's headed in our direction" at the league meetings earlier this month. Rodgers said he's operating on his own timeline while making his personal off-the field life a priority. While he could eventually sign with the Steelers, it certainly sounds like retirement is a very real possibility.