Louisville QB Tyler Shough among draft prospects hosted by Steelers

The draft prospects have begun to trickle into Pittsburgh Steelers headquarters. And the first day of visits included a quarterback.

Louisville QB Tyler Shough was one of three players hosted by the organization Thursday at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. By rule, each team can have 30 such players as in-person guests, though a few others will have exempted visits.

Shough is a 25-year-old who spent seven years in college at three major-college schools. Also visiting Thursday were Ole Miss defensive tackle J.J. Pegues and West Virginia offensive lineman Wyatt Milum.

Tyler Shough: certified dime-dropper ????

His best throws from the Combine: pic.twitter.com/erYywtffmH

— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) March 2, 2025

The 6-foot-5, 219-pound Shough was in college so long that, at Oregon, he spent two years as a teammate of now-six-year NFL starting quarterback Justin Herbert of the Los Angeles Chargers. Shough played two seasons at Oregon and three for Texas Tech before finally making it through a full season as a healthy starter for Louisville in 2024.

During the combine last week, Shough said his age “hasn’t really come up” when he’s met with NFL teams.

“It’s been a benefit for me,” he said. “With the experience and understanding I’ve cultivated this passion, and it’s given me a new perspective being in college for a while. Teams are starting to recognize that.

“You see guys like (Matthew) Stafford, (Tom) Brady and (Aaron) Rodgers playing into their prime, well into their late 30s. That would be my goal to play as long as I can. If anything, it’s given me that advantage.”

Shough was fifth in the 17-team ACC in passing yards (3,195) and touchdowns (23). He is projected as a mid-round pick at next month’s draft.

Five of the six quarterbacks taken in the first round last year had transferred at least once while in college, as have each of the two quarterbacks most consider first-round picks this season.

Shough took note of that, and he, likewise, pointed to how Sam Darnold broke through at age 27 in 2024 following six years of mediocre pro play after he was drafted as a 21-year-old in 2028.

“As time goes on,” he said, “you only mature and get better as a thrower.”

Milum (6-6, 313 pounds) made 32 starts at tackle the past three seasons for West Virginia, where he was a teammate of Steelers center Zach Frazier. Milum, though, often is projected as a guard a the pro level. He is considered a Day 2 draft pick and as a WVU player was regarded as an exempted “local” prospect visit for the Steelers.

6-FOOT-2, 315-POUND J.J. PEGUES GETS IN FOR THE BIG MAN TOUCHDOWN! ????️ pic.twitter.com/zCNALM3Nqc

— Grayson Weir (@GsonJW) November 25, 2022

Pegues (6-2, 309) is expected to be drafted in the middle rounds. A transfer as a junior after two seasons at Auburn, Pegues made 25 college starts and totaled 26½ tackles for loss and 10 sacks. He also scored eight touchdowns as a short-yardage running back.

The Steelers are expected to target what is a deep defensive line group in the draft.