It’s been nearly three weeks since the 2025 NFL Draft, and the Pittsburgh Steelers still don’t have a starting quarterback. Though the team added Will Howard in Round 6 of the draft, the Ohio State product isn’t ready to be a starting signal-caller for a playoff contender yet.
The Steelers are still in pursuit of Aaron Rodgers, but if the 41-year-old decides to retire or choose a different avenue, CBS Sports’ Bryan DeArdo believes Pittsburgh could sign free-agent quarterback Desmond Ridder.
“Ridder makes sense for several reasons. First, Ridder is very familiar with Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith after having played for Smith when he was the Falcons head coach. While he had some success, Ridder’s struggles led to him getting temporarily benched by Smith midway through the 2023 season. Ridder and Smith both left Atlanta after that season; Smith resurfaced in Pittsburgh while Ridder made one start as a member of the Raiders,” DeArdo wrote.
Ridder had a wild 2024 season. He was traded to the Arizona Cardinals during the offseason after the Falcons signed Kirk Cousins, but the Cincinnati product didn’t end up making Arizona’s roster and was signed off their practice squad by the Las Vegas Raiders in October.
The 2022 third-round pick appeared in a few games for Las Vegas last year, but was uninspiring and is still on the free agency market after the draft.
Though Ridder may have some untapped potential and does have starting experience, which came in 2023 with Atlanta, the Steelers should avoid signing him. The 25-year-old isn’t even an above-average backup at this point in his career and would be fighting for a roster spot in Pittsburgh.
The Steelers don’t need more depth pieces at quarterback, as they already have Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson. Mike Tomlin’s squad desperately lacks starting-caliber talent at the sport’s most vital position, so signing Ridder makes absolutely no sense.
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