Steelers linked with surprising QB prospect

The Pittsburgh Steelers are currently on track to have longtime backup Mason Rudolph as their Week 1 starting quarterback, and many believe Pittsburgh should use the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft to address the position regardless of how Aaron Rodgers decides to spend next season. 

Some previously linked the Steelers with both Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders and Ole Miss' Jaxson Dart. During Thursday's edition of his "The Herd with Colin Cowherd" program, Cowherd shared that Pittsburgh coaches may have a different to-be rookie signal-caller in mind. 

"I talked to an NFL exec last night," Cowherd explained, as shared by Joe Clark of Steelers Depot. "Very well-connected, and this is a 'keep-your-head-on-a-swivel,' Aaron Rodgers. I'm told the Steelers really like (Alabama quarterback) Jalen Milroe. Twenty-first pick, first round...They're taking a quarterback. If the 21st pick, Milroe's not taken, Pittsburgh is leaning now and taking him."

Interestingly, Cowherd offered his update after ESPN's Matt Miller predicted in his latest mock draft published on Thursday morning that the Steelers will make Milroe the 83rd overall pick of this year's draft. 

The draft stocks of Sanders and Dart, ranked second and third behind Miami's Cam Ward in most quarterback power rankings for this year's class, have become moving targets. Some believe both Sanders and Dart could be top-nine picks, while others think at least one of them will slide into the second round. If both are off the board when Pittsburgh is called to spend the 21st overall selection, the AFC North side may not be able to pass on Milroe and hope to get him later in the draft. 

In a mock draft published on Tuesday night, Cleveland Browns reporter Tony Grossi of ESPN Cleveland/The Land on Demand predicted that the Browns will grab Milroe if he's available at pick No. 33. Milroe previously had new Browns offensive coordinator Tommy Rees as his OC in college. 

The Steelers landing Rodgers but then drafting Milroe would be fascinating, if only because signing the 41-year-old future Hall of Famer is a win-now move that theoretically should be followed up by the club using a first-round draft pick to build around him. With that said, those running the Atlanta Falcons seem to have no regrets about making Michael Penix Jr. the eighth overall pick of last year's draft less than two months after the Falcons signed veteran Kirk Cousins.