The field marshal, free agent, moved the draft of Tomlin and company in QB
Pittsburgh – the most influential person in the draft of the NFL of 2025 of the Pittsburgh Steelers I was not in the team's operating room. He was not even on the other side of any of the seven telephone calls that Mike Tomlin He made his recruits during the three -day event.
He was in another place, perhaps at his home in Malibu, sitting on the terrace watching dolphins retrace in the Pacific. Or maybe in a dark cave reflecting on its future, or even in a retirement in Costa Rica looking for clarity in holistic healing rituals.
Aaron Rodgers He is not a player of the Steelersbut the team brought together its 2025 draft generation as if it were soon.
“We continue to receive the same signals that we have been receiving lately,” the owner and president of the team, Art Rooney II, told Friday night, Steelers Nation Radiothe team's flagship program. “He does want to come, so I think we'll have news soon.”
Despite the repeated insistence of Steelers in what Aaron Rodgers He would not influence his draft strategy, his actions in the 2025 Draft speak more than the words of the board. Discard a quarterback four times before finally selecting the 24 -year development prospect, Will Howardof Ohio Statein the sixth round, he suggests that Rodgers was very present in his decision -making process.
“We do not consider whether Aaron would enter the draft or not,” Rooney said about the team's draft until that moment. “If we recruit a field marshal, and we could still do it, it will probably not be someone who starts this year. It will be someone in development and who could play in the future.”
“In my opinion, it will not be someone to have a great impact (this year) if we recruit a field marshal.”
At the time of the interview with Art Rooneythe team was still 20 hours after selecting Howard, but the owner's words seemed true. Although Howard has a national championship history and four years of FBS American football in its curriculum, it is not projected as a starter from day one. Despite completing an impressive 73% of its passing attempts at Ohio State, Will Howard You still need to work to correct the inconsistent launch mechanics that showed in its performance in the combine and improve its processing speed to adapt to the defensive of the NFL. Los Steelers They had many opportunities to recruit prospects with greater qualification, but each time they chose to address areas that considered more urgent. That suggests that Steelers They have incredible confidence in that Aaron Rodgers will sign in Pittsburgh or they firmly believe, much more than those outside the organization, than Mason Rudolph It is a good holder for week 1. or maybe Steelers are considering a third option: acquire a field marshal through an exchange. Kirk Cousinsof Atlantait is the most expensive option, but the team could also wait to see which field marshals are released from the crowded rooms of Cleveland y New York.
“That is undoubtedly a possibility,” Tomlin told Rich Eisen from NFL Network Saturday afternoon about the incorporation of Aaron Rodgers To the team. “I will not forecast whether or when it will join, not only about it, but to any other possible free agent. We have had very productive conversations with him, and I have enjoyed having productive conversations with him and knowing him.”
In the first round, of course, the Steelers selected the defensive Tackle of Oregon, Derrick Harmonwhile all field marshals remained available, except number one, Cam Ward.
“We were against clock,” said the general manager Omar khanwhen he was asked if he was tempted by a field marshal with the selection. “We got the player we wanted.”
By the time Steelers They were against clock again with selection number 83 on Friday night, only three field marshals were not available: Ward, Jaxson Dart y Tyler Shough.
Once again, the team dismissed the position and covered another hole, this time with the corridor of Iowa, Kaleb Johnson. Nine selections later, the Seattle Seahawks selected the field marshal Alabama, Jalen Milroe, with whom Steelers They gathered and had dinner at their Pro Day.
Even without a field marshal when the third day of the draft arrives, the Steelers They ignored the field marshals with their next two selections in the fourth and fifth round, even though Shedeur Sanders, of Coloradowhom the team received on a visit of the 30 best, was still available. The Steelers They even used their fourth round selection in the defender of Ohio State, Jack Sawyer, adding a player to a position that already had enough space instead of Sanders, to whom Mike Tomlin He had praised for his competitive spirit and hardness less than a week earlier.
Finally, the team opted for Will Howardseventh field marshal according to the predaft board of Mel Kiper, in the sixth round. Howard, predicted until the third round in some draft essays, was a good acquisition in the sixth round, especially as a development prospect that could have the opportunity to learn behind Aaron Rodgers.
“It is not about what happens in the field or if I play immediately, it is about improving and learning, and whoever is with me, who is competing with us,” he said Will Howard. “I am looking forward to this situation and give everything for this team, because this is how I do things. I do not do things halfway. I go with everything, and I have the full expectation that this next step with the Pittsburgh Steelers It will be amazing for me. “
But if the Steelers They do not complete their field marshal template with Rodgersthe next steps may not be so promising for the team.
