Author: Nikhil Mehta

Former Dolphins quarterback Skylar Thompson has signed a reserve/futures contract with the Steelers, according to his agency, SportsTrust Advisors.

In 2024, Thompson beat out Mike White for the Dolphins’ backup quarterback job during training camp and appeared in three regular season games, including a Week 3 start in place of Tua Tagovailoa after his concussion. Thompson was sacked five times in the game before leaving with a rib injury. He played just two more snaps before the end of the season and finished with 21 completions on 33 attempts for 187 passing yards.

The former seventh-round pick also started two games during Tagovailoa’s absence in Thompson’s 2022 rookie year. The former Kansas State Wildcat struggled in his first taste of NFL action, completing just 60 of his 105 passing attempts for 534 yards, one touchdown, and three interceptions.

Now, Thompson will join the Steelers as Mike Tomlin and his staff prepare to spend a second straight offseason navigating the quarterback position. Last year, they signed Russell Wilson and traded for Justin Fields, who combined for less than $5MM against the salary cap, per OverTheCap. Wilson won the starting job in training camp, but a calf injury gave Fields the chance to start the first six games of the 2024 season. The Steelers led the AFC North with a 4-2 record with Fields under center, but still turned to Wilson once he was healthy. Pittsburgh went 6-5 in his starts and fell to second place in the division after two losses to the Ravens.

Fields averaged 158.5 passing yards per game in his starts compared to Wilson’s 225.6, but the players recorded similar passer ratings. Fields also brought more to the run game and occasionally took the field for Wilson in short-yardage situations later in the season. Wilson has recently expressed his desire to remain in Pittsburgh, but his late-season struggles may have the team turning towards a younger and less expensive option in Fields.

Regardless of which 2024 starter stays in Pittsburgh, Thompson will likely compete for the Steelers’ backup gig next summer. As of now, no other quarterbacks are under contract, though Kyle Allen could re-sign after spending this year as the third-stringer.

The Raiders have requested an interview with Steelers director of pro scouting Sheldon White, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

White is a former NFL cornerback who began his front office career as a scout for the Lions in 1997. He worked his way up to director of player personnel by 2000, earned a title bump to vice president in 2009, and even served as the interim general manager after the Lions fired Martin Mayhew in 2015. White then joined Michigan State University’s front office until 2020 when he returned to the NFL as a scout with the Commanders.

Steelers general manager Omar Khan hired White as the team’s director of pro scouting in 2022. Pittsburgh has gone 29-22 since then with two playoff appearances. (The Lions made the playoffs just twice during White’s 15 years leading their pro personnel team, though the team went 6-2 during his time as interim GM.)

The Steelers’ major free agency signings under White including Patrick Queen and Russell Wilson in 2024, Larry Ogunjobi and Isaac Seumalo in 2023, and James Daniels and Myles Jack in 2022. Queen and Wilson both played key roles in Pittsburgh’s playoff push this year. Daniels has struggled to stay healthy, but Ogunjobi and Seumalo have been solid contributors in the trenches. Jack’s tenure was interrupted by his first retirement.

White is the third official candidate for the Raiders’ general manager role. Here is a full list of their planned and requested interviews:

• John Spytek, assistant general manager (Buccaneers): To interview
• Jon-Eric Sullivan, director of player personnel (Packers): Interview requested
• Sheldon White, director of pro scouting (Steelers): Interview requested