Aaron Rodgers
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Bleacher Report's Brad Gagnon named the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback situation the fourth-worst in the league entering the 2026 NFL Draft.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have largely been stuck in no-man’s this decade. While the team has often been good enough to make the postseason, the Steelers haven’t advanced in the playoffs in nearly a decade. In large part, that’s because of the average to below average signal callers the team has started — from over-the-hill future Hall of Famers such as Ben Roethlisberger and Aaron Rodgers to failed first-round picks.
According to Bleacher Report’s Brad Gagnon, things might only be getting worse.
On Friday, Gagnon ranked the 10 worst quarterback situations around the league entering the 2026 NFL Draft. The Steelers made the top (or is it bottom?) five on the list, coming in with the fourth-worst quarterback situation.
“They’re left waiting on the whims of an inscrutable 42-year-old who is well past his prime anyway,” wrote Gagnon.
“Rodgers is very unlikely to suddenly lead this team on a deep playoff run, and they have the talent elsewhere. So they could be wasting this window even if he returns. If not, it’s Mason Rudolph, Will Howard, maybe a second-tier rookie like Ty Simpson? Ugh.”
Steelers Continue to Wait for QB Aaron Rodgers
Aaron Rodgers
GettyBleacher Report’s Brad Gagnon named the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback situation the fourth-worst in the league entering the 2026 NFL Draft.
For the second straight offseason, the Steelers have tied their immediate hopes to Rodgers.
There are two different ways to look at that — embarrassing or conceding.
The optics of the Steelers waiting another offseason for Rodgers is not good. The team didn’t appear to be interested in any of quarterbacks this year or last offseason. It’s pretty much been Rodgers or bust despite the fact he’s in his early forties.
Waiting on that kind of quarterback is somewhat embarrassing. Some pundits have ripped the Steelers for doing it now two years in a row.
On the other hand, by holding out for Rodgers, the Steelers are conceding they have no other plan to get better behind center in the long term.
This offseason, the quarterback situation is seemingly better with Mason Rudolph and Will Howard under contract. But Rudolph is best suited as a backup, and Howard has yet to play in the league.
With that in mind, it’s somewhat surprising there are three teams with worse quarterback situations.
How Can Steelers Improve Their QB Situation?
Aaron Rodgers
GettyThe Pittsburgh Steelers have Mason Rudolph and Will Howard on their roster while waiting for an Aaron Rodgers decision on the 2026 NFL season.
The wait for Rodgers continues in Pittsburgh for one main reason — the Steelers don’t see any better options.
That includes the 2026 NFL Draft.
Even if the Steelers had a top 10 pick, that likely would be the case. Gagnon mentioned Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson, who could be available when the Steelers pick at No. 21. He will almost certainly be on the board throughout the Top 10.
If the Steelers role the dice on a quarterback in the first round, it will be Simpson. But most pundits don’t see that as a high possibility, especially insiders close to the team.
First-year head coach Mike McCarthy is likely to use 2026 to see what he has in Howard while continuing to start Rodgers.
That plan has the Steelers ranked near the bottom of the league in “quarterback situation.”