With the NFL Draft lower than one week away, predicting the place the highest quarterbacks on this class shall be chosen is fairly robust.
One of many league’s most quarterback-needy groups, the Pittsburgh Steelers, gained’t be on the clock till effectively into the evening on Thursday, as they personal the No. 21 general choose after a playoff look final season.
However after transferring on from Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, the one quarterbacks on Pittsburgh’s roster are Skylar Thompson and Mason Rudolph. Absolutely, the Steelers are going to proceed to play the ready recreation for Aaron Rodgers to make up his thoughts in free company.
However a 41-year-old Rodgers, a journeyman backup in Rudolph, and a follow squad candidate in Thompson is a subpar room any method you slice it.
Based on beat reporter Gerry Dulac, Pittsburgh’s brass has a first-round grade on Jaxson Dart, a prospect who hasn’t obtained the glitz and glamour of prime quarterbacks Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward, however a participant who has quietly climbed up draft boards nationally.
“They’ve a first-round grade on Jaxson Dart,” Dulac stated on The Wealthy Eisen Present. “And so they actually like Shedeur Sanders.”
It’s fascinating to listen to Dart’s identify talked about above Sanders, who at one level appeared like a lock to be a top-five choice, however has seemingly tumbled in mock drafts because the NFL Draft has grown nearer.
Prime draft analyst Todd McShay just lately predicted that Dart can be drafted in entrance of Sanders, which might be an enormous shock.
Remember that Dart rejected his invitation to attend the NFL Draft from the inexperienced room in Inexperienced Bay. Usually, gamers with no assure to be chosen within the first spherical will select to observe from residence. Whereas the printed would love the drama of a prospect sliding like Lamar Jackson did in 2018, it’s usually safer for the participant to only watch from the consolation of their very own residence.
However Dart will not be attending after initially committing to be in individual. Sanders gained’t be there, both.
The Steelers have finished their homework on nearly each prime quarterback prospect on this class. Historically, drafting all the way in which again within the 20s was a loss of life sentence for a crew that wanted a quarterback. However this 12 months? It looks as if at the very least one in every of these prime QBs will slide.
Dart is simply 21 years previous and threw for greater than 4,000 yards throughout his remaining season at Ole Miss. Maybe he might sit and study from Rodgers for one season earlier than placing his personal large arm to the take a look at in 2026.