Mike Tomlin reveals Aaron Rodgers' potential impact on Steelers' draft strategy 

With the NFL Draft starting on Thursday, the Steelers added another layer to their back-and-forth with Aaron Rodgers. Not that it should come as much of a surprise, but Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said that Rodgers will have no impact on their draft strategy. 

Tomlin was, of course, asked about Rodgers during his predraft news conference on Tuesday. 

"It does not," responded Tomlin to a direct question about if the fact that the Steelers are still waiting for an answer from Rodgers could influence what they do in the draft. 

In typical Tomlin fashion, he then elaborated with a vague answer that dances around the topic completely. 

“I think what you do in the draft often times affects some talent acquisition that happens after,” Tomlin said. “We’ll see how the acquisition goes this weekend.”

Regardless what Tomlin may say, the Steelers can't afford to worry about Rodgers when it comes to the draft. They are in desperate need of a franchise quarterback, something they can't find in Rodgers, 41, no matter what he may have left for 2025. 

Even if Rodgers does end up in Pittsburgh and proves to be an upgrade at the position for a Steelers franchise that has struggled to find any continuity under center since Ben Roethlisberger retired, he won't be a long-term solution. 

With both of their 2024 acquisitions — Justin Fields and Russell Wilson — no longer around as bridge options, it makes sense for the Steelers to want to bring in someone like Rodgers as an upgrade for one season. However, based on what Rodgers has said recently and the possibility he could decide to retire, Pittsburgh may have to pivot to another veteran option in Kirk Cousins or just decide to hand the reins back over to Mason Rudolph. 

At the same time, the Steelers are on the hunt for a young quarterback to build around for years to come. After failing to find that in Kenny Pickett, whom they selected with the 20th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, they need to decide if they love Shedeur Sanders or even Jaxson Dart enough to make him their new quarterback of the future. 

Tomlin did call Sanders' intangibles "really impressive," and many are now mocking him to Pittsburgh, especially if he falls out of the top 10. 

Regardless of what the Steelers do quarterback-wise, they also have several other positions that need addressed. Running back, wide receiver depth, the secondary and both the offensive line and defensive lines all require attention if Pittsburgh is going to hope to finally find postseason success.