By the time the Miami defense had caught its breath, Kyle McCord had already walked off the field. No celebration, no chest pounding. He had just erased a 21-point deficit in under 12 minutes—three drives, all ending in touchdowns, capped by a two-minute drill that looked more like a Tuesday install than a season-defining rally. Syracuse beat Miami that day, 38–35. McCord didn’t so much win the game as he commandeered it.
It was the kind of moment scouts circle back to in February. Then again, McCord’s entire 2024 season at Syracuse turned into a catalog of second looks. After a quiet exit from Ohio State, a program where he went 11–1 but never quite escaped the feeling of being borrowed time, McCord’s year under Fran Brown was something closer to reclamation. Not redemption—he never spiraled—but a reframing. One that’s now forcing NFL teams to reassess what they might’ve missed.
This Sunday, Jordan Schultz posted on his X account saying, “Sources: Syracuse QB Kyle McCord is visiting the #Steelers today and the #Giants tomorrow. McCord, who led the nation in passing last season, has acquitted himself well throughout the draft process with a series of good interviews and impressive work on the board. Several teams I’ve spoken with say he’s one of the most undervalued players in the entire draft — highlighting his prototypical NFL size, winning pedigree (see the 21-point comeback vs. Miami), and capacity to read coverage.”
Sources: Syracuse QB Kyle McCord is visiting the #Steelers today and the #Giants tomorrow.
McCord, who led the nation in passing last season, has acquitted himself well throughout the draft process with a series of good interviews and impressive on-the-board work.
Several… pic.twitter.com/wgZ8mZvnsl
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) April 14, 2025
McCord, a former blue-chip recruit who never quite felt like Ohio State’s long-term answer, made the rare decision to walk away from the Big Ten spotlight. What followed at Syracuse was less a fresh start than a full-blown reinvention. In 2024, he led the nation in passing yards (4,779), shattered the ACC single-season record, and turned a 5-win Orange program into a 10-win story, capping the regular season with a 21-point comeback over Miami that had scouts whispering.
Let’s talk about Pittsburgh. Head coach Mike Tomlin, who recently doubled down on his ‘we go into every camp with four quarterbacks’ approach, is navigating one of the more awkward transitional periods in franchise history. Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson are currently the only two QBs under contract. Aaron Rodgers remains in the conversation, albeit one marked more by ambiguity than momentum. The Steelers, still adrift post-Roethlisberger, are trying to recalibrate quarterback development without a clear QB1.
That’s where McCord fits in. Maybe not as a starter, but as a low-risk, high-IQ developmental piece. A Day 2 or 3 flyer with a big arm, pocket presence, and the kind of system adaptability that scouts tend to undervalue until they don’t. At Syracuse, under Fran Brown’s revamped, pro-style spread, McCord was given far more freedom than he had at Ohio State. He thrived in full-field progressions. His footwork tightened. His mistakes shrank.
The Steelers, after all, have a history of grooming quarterbacks. And while McCord isn’t the immediate answer, he has the potential to be the steady hand they need in a few years.
Mike Tomlin’s 4 QB gamble: What it means for the Steelers
Ten days after Mike Tomlin’s candid comments about the Steelers’ quarterback search, Pittsburgh still lacks clarity at the game’s most crucial position. Aaron Rodgers, the dream solution, remains on the fence. The Steelers’ GM, Omar Khan, admitted to reporters at the NFL Annual Meeting that the team has struck out on securing a long-term QB. “It’s not easy,” Khan said, acknowledging the difficulty of replacing Ben Roethlisberger.
Despite the uncertainty, Khan insists all options remain on the table—through free agency, trade, or the draft. Right now, the Steelers have Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson under contract. Neither is a starter that strikes fear into defensive coordinators. Yet, the Steelers seem poised to bring in a veteran, with Khan acknowledging they have a good sense of what’s available, thanks to ongoing discussions since the Combine.
PITTSBURGH, PA – JANUARY 08: Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin looks on to the field during the game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cleveland Browns at Acrisure Stadium on January 8, 2023 in Pittsburgh, PA. Photo by Shelley Lipton/Icon Sportswire NFL, American Football Herren, USA JAN 08 Browns at Steelers Icon2301081153 “Image Credits: Imago”
Should Rodgers decide against Pittsburgh, Rudolph could be the fallback. According to Tom Pelissero, if Rodgers doesn’t sign, the Steelers might turn to Rudolph as their starter, pairing him with a drafted rookie. While Rudolph hasn’t been a world-beater, his rapport with George Pickens, particularly his ability to stretch the field, makes him a reasonable option in the short term.
The Steelers are running out of options. With Russell Wilson, Justin Fields, and others already signed, and Rodgers still undecided, veterans like Jameis Winston and Daniel Jones are no longer in play. That leaves Kirk Cousins as the only remaining target.
Tomlin’s gamble is clear: a late-quarterback shuffle could determine not only the team’s 2024 success but his future as Pittsburgh’s head coach. With training camp fast approaching, it’s a high-stakes wait for a solution that could make or break the season.
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