Now that the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine has come and gone, the picture is becoming clearer for prospects and teams ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft.
A lot still has to happen in the pre-draft process, including Pro Days and official team visits, not to mention player movement in free agency at the start of the NFL’s new league year. But for now, needs are clear for teams, and the players they met with at the Combine, particularly in a formal fashion, are worth noting.
That’s typically the case with the Pittsburgh Steelers, who hold the No. 21 overall pick in the first round. The Steelers have a major need at quarterback, wide receiver and cornerback right now. They met with a number of receivers and cornerbacks in Indianapolis, and had key meetings with some of the top QBs in the class.
So, when the 2026 NFL Draft kicks off in Pittsburgh in late April, the Steelers have an idea of what direction they need to go in. For Pro Football Focus, there are two ideal paths as things stand: landing the QB of the future in Alabama’s Ty Simpson or adding USC wide receiver Makai Lemon.
In a piece highlighting the best-case scenario for all AFC teams Monday morning, Pro Football Focus’ Ryan Smith outlined those scenarios for the Steelers.
“Breaking down the Pittsburgh Steelers gets tricky when you consider whether or not Aaron Rodgers returns for one more year. Should he return, the team may opt to surround him with better weapons after their wide receivers ranked just 29th in PFF receiving grade in 2025. If Rodgers retires, the search for their next franchise quarterback and more of a rebuild mentality may take priority,” Smith writes. “A quick separator, Makai Lemon would be a natural fit alongside DK Metcalf. Lemon led the FBS with a 91.4 PFF receiving grade while ranking top 10 among qualified wideouts in yards per route run and missed tackles forced.
“Should the team look at the quarterback position, Alabama‘s Ty Simpson could be in play early in the draft. He’s shown the ability to make NFL throws (30 big-time throws in 2025) but his PFF passing grade splits when kept clean (91.0) versus under pressure (45.7) are a cause for concern.”
Right now, everything rides on Aaron Rodgers’ decision. The Steelers, particularly GM Omar Khan, believes it won’t drag out this time with Rodgers. Reports indicate that the Steelers expect Rodgers to make a decision to re-sign or retire by the start of free agency.
If he returns, it would be wise to add more playmakers around him to try and compete in Year 1 under Mike McCarthy. Lemon is a popular name for the Steelers. He’s a terrific playmaker after the catch, forcing defenders to miss while creating explosive plays.
He’s an easy separator, too, and that bodes well in McCarthy’s offensive scheme. That would allow Rodgers to continue to get the ball out quickly, too. If Lemon is on the board at No. 21, it would be an easy choice for the Steelers.
But even if Rodgers returns for one more year, the Steelers can’t rule out taking someone like Simpson at No. 21 to sit and learn behind Rodgers for a year.
There are questions about Simpson as a potential franchise QB due to his limited number of college starts (15).
Simpson believes his time sitting and learning and going against Alabama’s great defenses in recent years as a backup has him more than prepared for the NFL.
Simpson, who is the son of a longtime college football head coach, has raved about the Steelers and spoke highly of his meeting at the Combine with McCarthy. He makes plenty of sense for the Steelers, especially long-term.
We’ll see how the board looks come pick 21, assuming the Steelers don’t trade up. It will be fascinating to see what decision they make if both Simpson and Lemon are on the board.
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