Could Steelers Acquire Young QB Reportedly On Trade Block?

Nothing should be off the table as the Steelers pursue their next quarterback.

Pittsburgh reportedly met with aging veteran Aaron Rodgers, and it could use a premier draft pick on a signal-caller next month. But those aren’t the only ways to address the need.

The Steelers also could trade for a young and promising talent, such as Patriots gunslinger Joe Milton III. Milton, a sixth-round pick by New England in the 2024 NFL Draft, reportedly is on the trade block after the Patriots signed Joshua Dobbs as a backup option to Drake Maye.

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported there are “several teams” showing interest in the Tennessee product. While it’s unknown whether Pittsburgh is one of those teams, Milton would make sense for Mike Tomlin’s bunch. Arguably no quarterback room in the league is weaker than Pittsburgh’s.

Would Milton enter Pittsburgh as a surefire long-term solution? Maybe not. But the 25-year-old offers high upside with his physical tools, which he displayed in college and New England. He would bring an added level of playmaking and excitement while throwing to DK Metcalf and George Pickens.

The offseason departure of Justin Fields coupled with Russell Wilson still lingering on the open market means Mason Rudolph is headlining Pittsburgh’s depth chart. Rudolph doesn’t offer nearly the same potential.

New England reportedly is seeking a third-round pick for Milton, which might be too rich for a 2024 sixth-rounder with just one career NFL game under his belt. But if the Steelers can acquire Milton for a Day 3 pick and allow him to develop on his rookie contract, that might be more enticing than a 41-year-old headache or the fourth-best QB in a lackluster 2025 class.