Trade for Matthew Stafford? Move up in draft? Steelers should explore all QB options

INDIANAPOLIS — Steelers general manager Omar Khan took multiple questions about his team’s quarterback conundrum. Whether it was in regard to retaining Russell Wilson or Justin Fields, adding a veteran or drafting a passer of the future, the GM's responses were largely consistent: We don’t have a quarterback under contract, so until that happens, all options are on the table. 

"We’re just looking for the guy, the player that’s gonna help us win our ultimate goal, which is a championship," Khan said Tuesday at the NFL Scouting Combine. 

So, why not go aggressive at quarterback?

Aggressive like trading for an established, Super Bowl-winning quarterback like Matthew Stafford, whose agent has been given permission by the Los Angeles Rams to gauge his market value. Aggressive like attempting to trade up in the first round to get in the conversation for Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders or Miami's Cam Ward. Maybe it’s taking a quarterback at No. 21 overall or high on Day 2 — think Jaxson Dart (Ole Miss), Jalen Milroe (Alabama), Will Howard (Ohio State) — to pair with Wilson or Fields. 

Khan mentioned that "ideally," the Steelers would like to keep Wilson or Fields. Early in the offseason, team president and owner Art Rooney II said that’s the preference. But Pittsburgh can’t play it safe at the position. A large part of the rut it’s been in as a franchise  — consistently above average but not elite — has been because of a mediocre offense. 

Winless in the postseason since 2016, the Steelers lost five straight games to end 2024, a span in which they never scored more than 17 points. They haven’t had an offense rank above 16th in scoring since 2020, Ben Roethlisberger’s penultimate NFL season. A major swing at quarterback could be just