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The Pittsburgh Steelers find themselves in a quarterback conundrum heading into the 2025 NFL Draft. In an ideal scenario, they’d snag their franchise quarterback with their first-round pick — a guy they could build around for the next decade. But there’s one glaring problem: picking at No. 21 overall makes finding that caliber of quarterback extremely difficult.
The top signal-callers will likely be long gone by the time Pittsburgh goes on the clock. Cam Ward is virtually locked in as the Tennessee Titans’ selection at No. 1 overall. Meanwhile, Shedeur Sanders — despite mixed reviews from scouts — is projected to be the second quarterback taken, possibly as high as the No. 2 pick to Cleveland.
This leaves the Steelers in a bind.
Without orchestrating a massive trade up the board, Khan and company might have to settle for a second-tier quarterback prospect. That’s why recent news about Alabama QB Jalen Milroe has Steelers Nation buzzing — he’s officially accepted an invitation to attend the draft in person in Green Bay.
Alabama QB Jalen Milroe has accepted an invitation to attend the 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay, per @dpbrugler. It’s a bit of a roll of the dice if he doesn’t go in Round 1, though we’ve seen players return for Day 2 as well. pic.twitter.com/bjjwv9mnp4
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) April 6, 2025
Highly-touted prospects like Milroe typically don’t show up on draft night without some assurance they’ll hear their name called in Round 1. While it’s possible he’s rolling the dice without any guarantees — potentially subjecting himself to the dreaded green room wait — it’s more likely he’s received strong indications from at least one team that he won’t slip past the first day.
Could Milroe be Pittsburgh’s quarterback of the future?
The Steelers aren’t the only team hunting for a quarterback outside the Ward-Sanders sweepstakes, but they might be the most natural fit stylistically for what Milroe brings to the table. His cannon arm combined with impressive mobility aligns perfectly with what Mike Tomlin has historically valued in his signal-callers.
However, Milroe’s game has serious question marks that can’t be ignored. His mechanics need significant refinement before he’ll be NFL-ready — a major concern for a Steelers team that’s built to win now, not wait for a project quarterback to develop.
The bigger red flags center around Milroe’s accuracy and anticipation issues. He often struggles to throw receivers open and lacks consistent ball placement — limitations that could severely cap his ceiling at the next level. While Pittsburgh’s offensive system might mask some of these deficiencies, they can’t eliminate them entirely.
Steelers fans should approach the Milroe news with caution. If the front office believes he’s the missing piece who can lead them to the playoffs in 2025, they’re setting themselves up for disappointment.
The Alabama quarterback has tantalizing tools — that’s undeniable. But drafting him at 21 would represent a significant gamble on potential rather than proven production. Pittsburgh might be better served addressing other needs and finding their quarterback of the future through other means — unless they truly believe Milroe’s upside outweighs the considerable risk.
