PITTSBURGH — By drafting defensive tackle Derrick Harmon in the first round and running back Kaleb Johnson in the third, the Pittsburgh Steelers filled important needs and found value with players who should fit their scheme nicely.

A third year of emphasizing the trenches and investing in players who can lead a run-heavy offense has the Steelers in a good position over the long term to play the brand of football they desire.

“It goes beyond the defensive front,” coach Mike Tomlin said. “We wanted to retool physicality in all areas.”

Though the Steelers accomplished that goal with their seven-player haul, there’s just one question: Who is going to throw the ball to DK Metcalf?

Even as the Aaron Rodgers saga has dragged on longer than anyone anticipated, the Steelers have remained optimistic that the 41-year-old, four-time MVP will eventually join the team. There’s still no deadline and no official word from Rodgers’ camp, but there were several clues along the way that suggest the veteran QB could be coming to Pittsburgh.

Let’s take a look at the checklist.

No early-round QB

On Tuesday, Tomlin said Rodgers’ ongoing indecision wouldn’t change the Steelers’ approach in the draft. However, he did acknowledge that adding a significant player at the position could, in some way, impact their pursuit of Rodgers.

The underwhelming draft class at the QB position didn’t give the Steelers a major opportunity to make an aggressive move. But they passed on several possible options.

Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart was still on the board when the Steelers were on the clock at No. 21. Of the available options, Dart would have been the only quarterback who really could have made the Steelers think twice about waiting around for Rodgers. (By passing on Shedeur Sanders three times in the first four rounds, Pittsburgh clearly didn’t see the Colorado quarterback as a needle-mover.)

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The Steelers’ draft, even without a quarterback, has unfolded exactly how they hoped so far

The Steelers never expected to draft a starting QB this year. Instead, they’ve gotten great value at two positions they most prioritized.

However, by drafting a defensive lineman in Round 1 and waiting all the way until the sixth round to select Ohio State QB Will Howard, the Steelers were looking for a developmental piece for the future, not someone who could challenge Rodgers for QB1 status.

On NFL Network, Tomlin was asked if the Steelers’ passing on QBs until the sixth round suggests Rodgers is coming to Pittsburgh.

“I’ll give you the latitude to run with it,” Tomlin said with a smirk. “Because I know you will anyway.”