The Pittsburgh Steelers hold 12 picks in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft under GM Omar Khan and first-year head coach Mike McCarthy, and with one of those 12 picks many believe that the franchise will draft a quarterback to develop and take a shot on as a potential franchise quarterback.
Alabama’s Ty Simpson remains a possibility, especially in the first round, while other names like LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier, Penn State’s Drew Allar, and Miami (FL)’s Carson Beck all make sense.
But the Steelers are seemingly high on second-year pro Will Howard, and all signs continue to point towards Aaron Rodgers returning for a second season. So, drafting a quarterback might go against what’s best for the Steelers.
Steelers.com’s Bob Labriola seems to think that’s the case. In an Asked and Answered mailbag with readers earlier in the week, Labriola pushed back on drafting a quarterback this year, because any QB the Steelers take will need to be developed, and that matches where they are with Howard at the moment.
“I see Drew Allar and Will Howard as the same, and by that I mean they’re both young developmental type prospects who have been judged so far by NFL scouts as lacking elite raw tools and/or being deficient in some of the subtle qualities required of the position at the NFL level,” Labriola writes of the QB position. “In my opinion, you only keep one of those kinds of players on the 53-man roster.
“I would keep 3 QBs on the 53-man roster, with one being the starter, one being a veteran, experienced backup, and the third being the young, developmental prospect.”
While there is no real, true franchise quarterback worth taking in this draft class at the position, there is some talent worth taking a swing on, especially with the Steelers having 12 picks and having a serious long-term need at the position.
The franchise might have a ton of belief in Howard, and they very clearly want to see what he can do this season under McCarthy’s guidance. But his presence on the roster can’t block the Steelers from taking a swing on a talent at the most important position in sports. Nor can the presence of Mason Rudolph as a backup block the Steelers from taking a shot on a quarterback coming into the NFL that the decision-makers might like.
Landing a quarterback with one of those three third-round picks feels like the sweet spot for the Steelers and McCarthy to take a chance on a quarterback. You have to keep taking chances on the position until you find a guy. It’s not as if Rodgers, should he come back, will need a ton of practice reps in training camp or even during the week leading up to games in McCarthy’s scheme.
After all, he played in it for a number of years and had great success. McCarthy knows that task in front of him at the quarterback position. He has to find and develop that next guy for the Steelers under center, and you can only do that by adding pieces to the room.
Therefore, Howard and a rookie quarterback can’t be viewed in the same light. They’re all different players, and Howard can’t keep the Steelers from taking as many swings as needed on the position.
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