All signs seemingly pointing toward 42-year-old quarterback Aaron Rodgers returning for a second season with the Pittsburgh Steelers and reuniting with new head coach Mike McCarthy. Still, the debate rages on surrounding the Steelers and if they should address quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft, particularly in the first round.
That’s what ESPN’s Field Yates did on Wednesday, pairing the Steelers with Alabama QB Ty Simpson at No. 21.
On paper, that pairing makes some sense. The Steelers address the QB position for the future with a first-round pick, giving Simpson a chance to sit and develop behind Rodgers, much like Jordan Love once did in Green Bay and Rodgers once did behind Brett Favre, too.
But is that the right move for the Steelers, who have designs on competing for a Super Bowl in 2026? That’s debatable.
Former NFL center and current ESPN analyst Jeff Saturday, who played one year in Green Bay under McCarthy and with Rodgers, believes that’s the best thing the Steelers could do this offseason if they bring Rodgers back.
“Aaron Rodgers gives them the best chance to win right now,” Saturday said Wednesday on Get Up, according to video via ESPN. “Another quarterback, whether it’s Ty Simpson or somebody else moves up into that, they need to have a long-term solution in Pittsburgh at quarterback. If that’s what cost Mike Tomlin and just frustrated him to when he didn’t want any more of this, is that the question? If it never gets answered, people aren’t gonna keep trusting a 43-, 44-year-old QB.
“At some point you have to move on. That’s why you draft a guy and develop him under Rodgers.”
Rodgers does give the Steelers the best chance to win in 2026, unless Pittsburgh pivots to the likes of Kyler Murray, Kirk Cousins, Malik Willis or even Spencer Rattler as has been suggested a few times so far this offseason.
The four-time NFL MVP had a great deal of success with McCarthy, knows the offense and the terminology, and is already familiar with the locker room and the leadership in Pittsburgh.
But if he’s going to be the guy in 2026, the Steelers would be wise to take a look at the quarterback position in the 2026 NFL Draft. Of course, Will Howard is already in the mix, and the Steelers have raved about the Ohio State product. But he’s a former sixth-round pick and never took an NFL snap last season, even in preseason. So that’s a huge projection.
But it’s also a huge projection with a guy like Simpson, too, who started just one season for the Crimson Tide.
The key with a Simpson is that he would be paired with McCarthy, who seemingly everyone raves about as a QB development guru. Even Rodgers has experience helping young quarterbacks develop underneath him, so it would be a great landing spot for Simpson.
“And that’s what McCarthy has done. Let me tell you something: I went to Green Bay. Rodgers was ripping it up when [Brett] Favre was still at quarterback, on scout team. He’s watched a great one, sit and wait his turn. He has the patience and they’ve won a bunch of games. They’re 9-7 in the playoffs together, McCarthy and Aaron Rodgers.
“There’s one thing about Mike McCarthy; developing quarterbacks is an area he knows.”
That’s what the Steelers are counting on. Even if they bring back Rodgers for 2026, they need a long-term plan at the position. Drafting Simpson at No. 21 overall could be it, even if there is a belief in a guy like Will Howard, too.
But finding that long-term answer at quarterback and developing him is the reason McCarthy has the job. It’s why he will have a big say in what happens under center moving forward in Pittsburgh.
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