Steelers Pursue Jaxson Dart with First-Round Pick Amid Urgent QB Need

Pittsburgh, PA – March 28, 2025
The Pittsburgh Steelers are setting their sights on Jaxson Dart, the dynamic Ole Miss quarterback, with their first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Friday. With an urgent need for a QB1 following the departures of Russell Wilson to the Giants and Justin Fields to the Jets, GM Omar Khan appears ready to stake Pittsburgh’s No. 21 selection on the 22-year-old rising star to anchor the franchise’s future.

Dart dazzled in 2024, throwing for 3,875 yards, 27 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions, while adding 589 rushing yards and 8 scores, leading Ole Miss to a 10-3 record. His dual-threat prowess—blending pinpoint passing with explosive mobility—has drawn comparisons to a young Ben Roethlisberger, making him a prime target for a Steelers offense featuring George Pickens and D.K. Metcalf. “Jaxson’s got that grit and arm strength we need,” an insider said. “He’s a Steelers QB through and through.”

The urgency stems from a depleted QB room, with Mason Rudolph as the lone holdover after Wilson and Fields bolted in free agency. While talks with Aaron Rodgers fizzled, Khan’s pivot to the draft signals a long-term play. Dart, ranked QB3 behind Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders by NFL.com’s Bucky Brooks, could be within reach at No. 21—or require a modest trade-up if teams like the Titans or Raiders leapfrog Pittsburgh.

Fan buzz on X is electric: “Dart to Steelers? Let’s get that Big Ben magic back!” (@SteelCityFan). With their secondary bolstered by James Bradberry and backfield led by J.K. Dobbins, snagging Dart could ignite Pittsburgh’s Super Bowl aspirations in 2025.