The Pittsburgh Steelers need their quarterback of the future and the 2026 NFL Draft is in Pittsburgh. Perfect timing, right? A year ago, the number of quarterback prospects that were expected to be first round picks made it almost a foregone conclusion that the Steelers would use their 2026 draft capital to pick their next franchise QB and the fact that it was in Pittsburgh would be the cherry on top.
Fast forward a year later and the entire conversation has changed for this quarterback class. Most of the top names have either decided to return to school or are now projected to be taken later in the draft.
With Fernando Mendoza a lock to be taken first overall, the only other name that is in play for the first round is Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson.
Colin Cowherd believes that one piece of news involving Simpson and his presence at the draft is significant.
“Ty Simpson is among sixteen players who will attend the draft in Pittsburgh. Isn’t that interesting? ” Cowherd said on The Herd. “Pittsburgh needs a quarterback and generally, if they’re inviting you to the draft, that means the NFL thinks Ty Simpson is going to go in the first round. And I do too.”
Realistically, the fact that Simpson will be in Pittsburgh for the draft probably won’t impact the Steelers’ decision to invest in a potential franchise quarterback or not. The fact that Simpson was invited to the draft, though, is significant because the NFL believes that he will be a first-round pick.
Mendoza elected to not make the trip to Pittsburgh for draft night and will instead share the experience with his family in Miami. This development may have led to the invitation of Simpson. After all, what fun is draft night without the broadcast showing the quarterbacks in the green room waiting to be selected?
Without Mendoza, Simpson was the only possible first-rounder at the position. Fair or unfair to the rest of the prospects, quarterbacks bring the star power. Still, the NFL has to have some level of confidence that Simpson will be taken in the first 32 selections so as not to subject him to a Will Levis-like night of agony in the first round.
For the Steelers, and any other QB needy team, the question they are likely asking themselves less than two weeks out from the draft is whether Simpson is worthy of the first round selection or whether the scarcity at the position is driving up his value. According to some experts, some teams are already looking ahead to the 2027 QB draft class and planning this year’s selections accordingly.
If the Steelers believe that they can ride it out this year with Aaron Rodgers (or possibly Will Howard as a backup plan), their best bet might be to wait until 2027 when the options are more plentiful in the first round.
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