In the first podcast episode of our annual NFL Draft preview series, we focus on the quarterback position.

As recently as a few weeks ago, with the 21st pick in the first round, the Pittsburgh Steelers weren’t expected to swim in those waters.

However, with the draft a week away, Aaron Rodgers still hasn’t signed a contract to be the Steelers’ QB in 2025. Colorado signal caller Shedeur Sanders, a perceived top-5 pick for much of the pre-draft process, is beginning to slip in many projections, and Mississippi’s Jaxson Dart is climbing to the point that he may get into the first round.

So I began our first podcast by asking former NFL and college scout Matt Williamson of Steelers Nation Radio if he genuinely thinks that Sanders and Dart are worthy of being first-round picks.

“Dart, no. Sanders, maybe. Only at 21, not to trade up,” Willaimson said.

Part of the reason Williamson is lukewarm on both Dart and Sanders going that high is the quality of competition the Steelers have to face when it comes to opposing quarterbacks in the AFC.

“The Steelers have to compete with (Joe) Burrow, Lamar (Jackson), (Josh) Allen, and (Patrick) Mahomes. The superheroes,” Williamson said. “I want to aim higher than Shedeur Sanders — whether that’s this draft or, more likely, next draft. I don’t see enough superhero in Shedeur Sanders or Jaxson Dart.”

Williamson credited Sanders for being accurate, tough and composed, but not physically unique.

“He gets a lot of help (at Colorado) from the screen game and (Travis) Hunter just bailing him out. He takes a lot of sacks that are on him. And, frankly, he just doesn’t have an overwhelming skill set,” Williamson said. “If everything aligns, and his career maximizes his potential, he’ll be the current version of Geno Smith. I think (Smith) is a really good player. But he’s not a superhero. I’m looking for superheroes for the Steelers.”

As for Dart, Williamson said he might have more raw ability than Sanders but is further away from being a good NFL quarterback.

“Dart is bigger, stronger, faster, better arm. But he doesn’t have any skill set that makes me jump up and down,” Williamson continued. “His deep ball isn’t particularly good, and when they played the better defenses, teams took away the deep stuff, and Dart struggled even on a loaded Mississippi team. I think he needs a year minimum. And I don’t think his upside is worth waiting a year, where I think Sanders could play earlier. But I don’t think his upside is more so than (Smith) or (Teddy) Bridgewater.”

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Williamson suggested that Dart’s positive traits may be heightened by Lane Kiffin’s offensive structure at Ole Miss.

“We saw this with Matt Corral coming out of this system in Mississippi. When you watch the Mississippi tape, you look at Lane Kiffin and say, ‘Boy, he’s really good at designing offenses and making this easy for quarterbacks,” Williamson added. “It’s real Mickey Mouse. Really open, defined reads.”

If the Steelers are desperate to draft a QB, though, and both are on the board, I asked Williamson to go through a checklist comparing the two prospects.

• Better arm?: “Dart, but neither is an ‘A.’”

• More athleticism?: “Dart, for sure. But Sanders isn’t a total stiff.”

• More accurate?: “Sanders is No. 1 in the class in terms of accuracy, ball placement, rhythm and timing. Dart is fine.”

• Better deep ball?: “Shedeur. But not a power arm.”

• Better processor of defenses?: “Definitely, Sanders. He does that well. He’s good from the neck up.”

• So Sanders is the better quarterback, even if Dart is the better athlete?: “Certainly, and if you had to play them soon, I would prefer Sanders, without question.”

Also in the podcast, we discuss some mid-round investments at the position the Steelers could make if they decided to wait on a QB. Williamson gives his opinions on Miami’s Cam Ward as a potential No. 1 overall pick. Plus, we compare this class of quarterbacks to the Class of 2022 (headed by Kenny Pickett) and next year’s crop when the draft is in Pittsburgh.

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