The 2026 NFL Draft may have only one first-round quarterback in Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza. Other quarterbacks, such as Alabama’s Ty Simpson, could sneak into the back half of the first round. Simpson’s been a popular name in mock drafts for the Steelers. However, the lack of high-end quarterback talent in the draft means more eyes will be on the free agent and trade market.
Green Bay Packers QB Malik Willis is the cream of a mostly lackluster crop. That could lead to a bidding war for the pending free agent’s services. Insider Ian Rapoport offered his latest guess for Willis’ next contract, and he used a benchmark set by a former Steelers quarterback to help get him there.
“If Justin Fields gets 20 [million dollars] a year, what does Malik Willis get?” Rapaport said Tuesday on NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal. “Thirty, 35? That’s my guess as to what it is.”
The Steelers were actually interested in re-signing QB Justin Fields after 2024. However, the New York Jets offered him that aforementioned $20 million a year deal (two years), and the Steelers declined to at least match it. Fields only started nine games in 2025 with the Jets, completing 62.7 percent of his passes and throwing seven touchdowns versus one interception. He also ran for four touchdowns.
Fields showed that he could manage an offense in extended action with Pittsburgh in 2024. He did not blow anyone away with his ability to quarterback, however.
Malik Willis is even more of a wild card than Justin Fields was a year ago, though. His sample size is incredibly small. He has the same number of NFL starts (six) that Fields had with the Steelers in 2024. Three of those starts came during his rookie season in 2022 with the Tennessee Titans. He started only three games in the last two years, including just one in 2025.
However, what Willis showed with the Packers caught everyone’s eyes. In three starts, he completed 78.7 percent of his passes (70-of-89) for 972 yards and six touchdowns without throwing an interception. He also ran for two touchdowns.
There just aren’t many options in free agency. That means one team will end up paying Malik Willis a good amount of money, banking on his three starts with the Packers being his norm. If Ian Rapoport’s numbers are right, then the Steelers are likely out on Willis, according to beat writer Ray Fittipaldo. So, we’ll see what the Steelers’ quarterback plans for 2026 are.
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