Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers
Getty
Aaron Rodgers #8 of the Pittsburgh Steelers warms up prior to a game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on December 07, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
The Pittsburgh Steelers have been busy throughout the early stage of the 2026 NFL offseason, but the Aaron Rodgers question remains the top storyline surrounding the team.
Rodgers, now 41 years old, could chose to re-sign with the Steelers for another season. Or, he could sign with a different team. Another option would be to retire from the NFL.
With that being said, Pittsburgh has been linked to quite a few quarterback options. One of the most popular options for the Steelers has been to draft Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Simpson would be a solid pickup for Pittsburgh. However, there is another sleeper signal caller in the draft who has now been predicted to be the Steelers’ potential long-term replacement for Rodgers.
Pittsburgh Steelers Could Land Surprising QB in 2026 NFL Draft
Pro Football Focus analyst Max Chadwick has projected the team to take LSU Tigers standout quarterback Garrett Nussmeier with the No. 85 overall pick in the third round.
At one point in time, Nussmeier was considered a potential first-round pick. He was unable to earn that status with his play during the 2025 college football season.
Nussmeier completed 67.4 percent of his pass attempts for 1,927 yards, 12 touchdowns, and five interceptions last season in nine games. Obviously, those weren’t the numbers expected from the LSU quarterback.
Due to his lower production, Nussmeier has fallen back to the third round in most mock drafts. While his stock may have fallen, there is no question that he has NFL talent. If Pittsburgh can wait until the third round and land a quarterback like Nussmeier, that would be a big win for the franchise.
What Kind of NFL Quarterback Could the LSU Star Become?
NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein has revealed his NFL comparison for the LSU quarterback. He thinks that Nussmeier could become a similar player to Drew Lock.
Here is a snippet of what Zierlein had to say about the Tigers’ quarterback leading up ot the draft:
“He will make a throw that makes you a believer in one series, but he often follows that up with a turnover that reignites the doubt,” Zierlein wrote. “He has adequate mobility in the pocket and limits his sack count. Teams will need to balance Nussmeier’s mistakes and durability concerns against his potential to improve on his LSU output.”
Whether or not Nussmeier has what it takes to be a franchise NFL quarterback remains to be seen. He has shown flashes of that kind of talent level during his days at LSU.
A team like the Steelers would make a lot of sense for the young quarterback. Even if Rodgers chooses to return for another year, Pittsburgh could draft Nussmeier and let him learn from the sideline from one of the best to ever do it.