NFL Insider Explains Why Steelers Didn’t Address QB Problem

The Steelers’ quarterback room didn’t look inspired heading into Pittsburgh’s offseason program.

Mason Rudolph, Skylar Thompson and sixth-round pick Will Howard are the signal-callers on the roster. The lack of starting experience in the room had fans wondering why Mike Tomlin’s side didn’t do more to address the issue.

NFL insider Dan Graziano tried to answer that question Wednesday.

“… But in talking to sources about this situation, I don’t get the sense the Steelers are as concerned about their quarterback room as everyone else,” Graziano wrote in a column. “First of all, they remain optimistic that (Aaron) Rodgers will sign and be their starter, and that he’ll play better than he did last season for the (New York) Jets now that he’s one year further removed from his 2023 Achilles injury. Second of all, they like Rudolph and have fresh memories of him saving their 2023 season and leading them to the playoffs when 2022 first-round pick Kenny Pickett struggled.

“Going into the draft, the Steelers believed they needed to find their long-term answer at quarterback in one of the next two drafts — not necessarily in this one. And like many other teams, they believe the 2026 class will have more to offer at the position than 2025 did. So they didn’t want to force an early-round pick and find themselves in a similar position to the one the Pickett pick put them in.”

There doesn’t seem to be an end in sight for the Rodgers situation. The future Hall of Fame quarterback suggested retirement in his last update, and the patience seems to be wearing thin for key figures in the Steelers organization.

Pittsburgh is never afraid to lean on the run game and its defense. That’s exactly what it will have to do if another QB signing isn’t made in the summer.