Steelers Leak Massive Decision on Quarterback Draft in 1st Round

The Pittsburgh Steelers have long been rumored to draft their quarterback of the future in the first round of the NFL Draft on Thursday night.

According to one Steelers' beat reporter, the team might be leaning towards drafting a defensive lineman.

In a mock draft conducted by the Los Angeles Times, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Gerry Dulac has projected the Steelers will bypass the quarterback position and draft a defensive tackle. He projects them taking Walter Nolen with the 21st pick of the first round.

Nolen would certainly fit the bill for the Steelers need for a defensive tackle. He's an impact run defender and pass-rusher, as evidenced by his 75.0 pass-rush grade and elite 91.6 run defense grade, per Pro Football Focus. 

The Ole Miss product was a consensus All-American in 2024 and had 6.5 sacks during the season. He also had 14 tackles for loss.

This still does not solve the Steelers' quarterback issues. They have Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thomson on the roster, but general manager Omar Khan said he wants four quarterbacks to go to training camp.

The team allegedly has a one-year offer on the table for veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers, but he does not seem to be jumping at it. At 41 he also does not solve the Steelers long-term need to solidify the position.

The Steelers have been linked to three different quarterbacks and all three should be off the board if they try to wait - and Pittsburgh doesn't even own a pick in the second round to grab one, anyway. 

The team has brought in Colorado's Shedeur Sanders, Nolen's teammate Jaxson Dart and Alabama's Jalen Milroe. 

All three could be first-rounders ... with the Steelers leaning another way.