Each season the Pittsburgh Steelers go 10-7, they find themselves in a similarly bleak position as they look to find their long-term quarterback. Last year the Steelers had the 21st overall pick, and while some thought they might take a chance on either Shedeur Sanders or Jaxson Dart, they passed on both. This year they have the same exact selection, and once again don’t have a standout quarterback prospect to choose from.
Pittsburgh had its reasons for passing on Dart. The Steelers needed help along their defensive line, and Derrick Harmon was a logical pick, one who had some bright moments in his rookie year. But so did Dart, who went a handful of picks later in the first round to the New York Giants. Dave Dameshek wishes the Steelers could take a mulligan when it comes to their most recent first-round pick.
“They remain in [quarterback] purgatory,” Dameshek said Tuesday on the Ross Tucker Podcast. “I mean, they should have taken Jaxson Dart a year ago.”
Dameshek isn’t the only one who wishes that as Rod Woodson recently shared the same sentiment. After Dart’s rookie season, it’s a fair question to ask. While he had some struggles late in the year, by that point Dart did not have much around him because of injuries. With 2,272 passing yards, 15 touchdowns, five interceptions and a passer rating of 91.7, he showed promise.
That said, it’s hard to argue Pittsburgh’s decision to take Harmon was a bad one. When healthy, Harmon was impressive in his own rookie season, especially against the run. And Pittsburgh still had Aaron Rodgers, who was arguably statistically better than Dart in 2025. The Steelers were able to ride that to 10 wins and a division title.
But Dameshek’s argument is that Jaxson Dart offers much more potential for the future and represents a long-term plan at the position. That’s certainly correct, and Dameshek believes Rodgers is too limited at this point in his career.
“If Aaron Rodgers announces he is returning, and he is the assumed QB in 2026… Have you seen him against a team that has a pass rush? He doesn’t like it. He will turtle up. Like anyone in their 40s will, he understands his own mortality, and he knows he can’t move like he used to,” Dameshek said. “That’s not good, to make your quarterback Aaron Rodgers.”
Dameshek has been critical of the Steelers’ efforts to bring Rodgers back. It’s hard to argue with that after watching the Steelers’ offense get shut down by talented pass rushers late in the year, notably in losses to Cleveland in Week 17 and Houston in the Wild Card Round.
A year removed from the first wait for Rodgers, the Steelers find themselves in a similar spot. They didn’t add to the position in free agency. With the draft a month from now, Ty Simpson is likely the only quarterback they can select who might be able to start right away. And while they feel comfortable with Rodgers coming back, they just don’t know if he will yet. Of course, having Will Howard on the roster does offer some hope if Rodgers retires.
Maybe the Steelers should have taken Jaxson Dart, but it’s not a guarantee he’ll become a franchise QB. To Dameshek, it would have at least provided more hope for the future.
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