Schrager Mocks Steelers Drafting Freeling for Rodgers

0:00On April 23rd, the NFL draft is right around the corner, and there's still no lock on whether Aaron Rogers suits up as the Pittsburgh Steelers. Starting quarterback in 2026, ESPN's Peter Schrager dropped a fresh mock draft, projecting the Steelers' snag Georgia offensive tackle Monroe Freeling with their first round pick-2. Beef up protection for the 42-year-old Rogers, assuming he comes back. Mike McCarthy stepping into his first draft as Steelers head coach and the team's eyeing spots like offensive line, quarterback and receiver. But Schrager's betting big on the line, figuring Pittsburgh wants to keep Rogers upright after last season's rough sacks. Fans and analysts are buzzing because Rogers hates scrambling from pressure at his age. I just spells trouble. A clean pocket lets him pick defenses apart, turning games into nightmares for opponents, and that's the edge Pittsburgh needs if he returns. Schrager points out Freelings got just a season and a half of college starts under his belt, but his athleticism screams, starter potential.

1:01Meanwhile, with DK Metcalf and Michael Pym in junior already locked in at receiver, that's not the urgent graph here line help trumps it early. Bottom line, if Rogers is the plan, fortifying that pocket feels like the sharp play, setting the Steelers up for a real shot no matter how the draft shakes out. This has been NFL News Today, powered by AI. I'm Corey, with the story.