Steelers Now
The Pittsburgh Steelers could already have their future franchise quarterback if not for one major mistake.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have been searching for their next franchise quarterback ever since Ben Roethlisberger retired at the end of the 2021 season. However, it turns out they almost drafted their future at the position before Roethlisberger even hung up his cleats.
Former Steelers linebacker James Harrison recently revealed that the team nearly selected four-time Pro Bowl quarterback Dak Prescott in the 2016 NFL Draft.
“I ain’t going to give my sources,” Harrison said on the Deebo and Joe Podcast. “I’ve been around the Steelers. I’ve been through the organization since 2002, so I know some people. We had a chance in 2016 in the fourth round to get a diamond in the rough, but we drafted a tackle that was with us maybe two, three years. We passed on a quarterback that was a diamond in the rough that they wanted to get but didn’t do it. Guess who that quarterback was? Dak Prescott. But that didn’t happen for a variety of reasons that I won’t get into.”
The Steelers ultimately drafted offensive tackle Jerald Hawkins with the No. 123 overall pick in the fourth round, and Prescott was selected by the Dallas Cowboys 12 picks later.
Hawkins spent four seasons in Pittsburgh (2016-18, 2020) before ending up in the Canadian Football league in 2023 and never returning.
Meanwhile, Prescott has established himself as one of the better franchise quarterbacks in the league, throwing for 35,919 yards, 243 touchdowns and 92 interceptions. He’s also rushed for 2,116 yards and 31 more scores.
Of course, Roethlisberger’s presence in the locker room may have been the reason why the Steelers didn’t feel the need to address quarterback, but it’s safe to assume they wish they had.
Since Roethlisberger’s retirement, Pittsburgh has had a carousel of quarterbacks including, Mitchell Trubisky, Kenny Pickett, Justin Fields, Russell Wilson, and now, Aaron Rodgers.
The Steelers also have a new general manager in Omar Khan now, but Harrison thinks they are still stuck in their old ways.
“It needs to be a change in this organization from the top down,” Harrison continued. “And I know with almost 100 percent certainty that that change will not happen until after the 2026 season.”
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Former Steeler Reveals Team Almost Drafted Pro Bowl QB in 2016
