Now that the NFL free agency period is winding down, it’s time to look ahead to the 2026 NFL draft, which is scheduled for April 23 through 25 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
The event, now in its 91st year, offers NFL teams the opportunity to draft new talent at a deal to round out their 2026-27 lineups.
For the Pittsburgh Steelers, they have some quarterback drama, of course. The team is waiting to see if Aaron Rodgers will return to the fold in 2026, so they’d be wise to draft some quarterback insurance for the future of the franchise.
In a Tuesday, March 10, piece for SI, Mark Morales-Smith predicts landing spots for the top college players entering the 2026 NFL draft. For the Steelers, he thinks they’d be wise to land a quarterback in Ty Simpson of Alabama with their No. 21 pick.
“As of now, the Steelers are still without a quarterback, and it’s likely Aaron Rodgers or bust for them heading towards the draft,” he notes in the piece. “There aren’t many better options left on the market.”
Simpson’s official draft profile from the NFL describes the former five-star prospect as “mechanically sound from a footwork and release perspective, providing a favorable foundation to work from.”
“He’s above average as a processor and decision-maker, but timing and anticipation remain works in progress,” the profile adds. “Arm talent and velocity are average, which limits his success. His repeatable process should help iron out ball placement inconsistencies the more he plays. Simpson is unfazed by shell coverages and is decisive when attacking intermediate zone pockets for chunk gains.”
There’s a warning here, though, as they mention that “one-year starters rarely ‘boom’ so he’ll need a patient staff and a clear developmental roadmap to fill in the missing pieces.”
But, if Rodgers is back for the 2026-27 season, as they expect, that gives the coaching staff time to develop Simpson.
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