The Pittsburgh Steelers put themselves in position a year ago to select a quarterback in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Could that still be on the table despite a weaker draft class than expected at the position? ESPN’s Field Yates has the Steelers taking Alabama’a controversial QB prospect Ty Simpson at No. 21 overall in his latest mock draft.
“One of the most pressing questions of this draft is how high Simpson will go. He was entrenched in the top-10 conversation midseason before a significant second-half slide,” Yates writes. “The pros for Simpson? He can throw with pristine accuracy, improvises in the pocket and has enough arm strength to drive the ball downfield. The cons? His decision-making waned down the stretch, as he had four interceptions and a combined 62.6 completion percentage in Alabama’s final six games.”
Are the Steelers in a position to bet on potential and risk another Kenny Pickett situation? There is always a risk of first-round quarterbacks busting out in the NFL. Fear of another Pickett can’t completely dissuade them from taking risks if they like the prospect. But that also isn’t a justification to take a quarterback in the first round because they feel like they need to.
Former NFL QB Chase Daniel, reacting to Yates’ mock draft, loves the fit for Simpson in Pittsburgh.
“Ty Simpson was the nations best QB before he got hurt & the Steelers at 21 make so much sense,” he wrote on X.
According to TideSports, Simpson dealt with multiple injuries over the back half of the season, including to his back and throwing elbow. If confirmed, that certainly provides context to his late-season slide and could potentially elevate his draft stock in the eyes of NFL scouts.
Simpson was just a one-year starter at Alabama, where he completed 305 of his 473 pass attempts for 3,948 yards, 28 TDs, and five INTs. At 6-2, 208 pounds, he is more of a traditional pocket passer and doesn’t offer a ton with his legs as a runner. But he makes up for it with good footwork in the pocket, quick reads, and good decision making. That could be the perfect match with Mike McCarthy’s West Coast offensive system that thrives on quick timing routes.
The Steelers will almost certainly spend extra time scouting and talking to Simpson throughout the pre-draft process. As much as they may like Will Howard, they can’t put all their eggs in a sixth-round pick’s basket. Especially one who hasn’t even played a preseason snap yet.
It would be nice to have a first-round QB learn from Aaron Rodgers for a year if he ultimately returns. But there are too many other needs on the roster to waste a first-round pick. The Steelers have a lot of homework ahead of them to get this right.
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