Possibly the NFL’s worst-kept secret is that Aaron Rodgers will soon be a Pittsburgh Steeler. Once that is settled, which appears to be happening relatively soon, the next worst-kept secret is that the Steelers are eyeing a quarterback in the first round of next year’s draft, which will be held in Pittsburgh.
Of course, until the season ends, the Steelers won’t outwardly express their intentions for next spring. But there’s no doubt that Omar Khan and Mike Tomlin are aware of the quarterback class that is coming and the potential it holds. 2026's class could be the answer to the franchise’s years-long prayers for a real prospect at the most important position in sports.
But until then, fans are free to speculate and begin gravitating toward the prospects they believe will be the answer for the future of the franchise. So let’s take a quick look at the top names expected to be in next year’s promising quarterback class.
The top quarterbacks the Pittsburgh Steelers could target in the 2026 NFL Draft
Arch Manning, Texas
If it feels a bit presumptuous to dub Arch Manning as the 2026 first overall pick, get used to it. While his name carries a wealth of NFL legacy and legitimacy, fans haven’t gotten a real opportunity to see him prove his worth beyond the name printed on the back of his jersey.
That’s not to say Manning isn’t talented. The son of Cooper is more athletic than both of his uncles put together, and he has arm talent befitting of the name Manning. The question, of course, is whether he also possesses the cerebral mentality of Peyton or the willpower of Eli.
For Pittsburgh to draft Manning, they’d need everything to go perfectly. The team that earns the first overall pick (fully assuming that isn’t Pittsburgh) will need to have a franchise quarterback in place and be willing to trade out of that spot. In May 2025, that sounds somewhat feasible, possible even. But check back in March 2026.
Schematically, Manning is presumably malleable and can fit into any offense. However, Steve Sarkisian’s offense at Texas heavily utilizes RPOs and isn’t exactly the most pro-style offense you’ll find among elite college football programs. Either way, Manning fits better in a pass-first style of offense rather than what you’d see in Pittsburgh.
Of course, that’s not to say the Steelers won’t give up some of their identity to field a Manning at quarterback. After all, Tomlin sure loves his legacy players.
Cade Klubnik, Clemson
From here, it’s a take-your-pick situation. Clemson’s Cade Klubnik is the latest from Dabo Sweeney’s program to earn a spot among the NFL’s most sought-after quarterbacks. He returns for his presumptive final season in a pro-style offense that features his strengths as a passer and displays his readiness to take over an NFL franchise.
Klubnik is efficient and careful with the football. He doesn’t make a lot of mistakes. While his stats show consistency, his game shows steady improvement. There isn’t a lot to not like about him as a prospect outside of a small frame. On top of that, Clemson’s offense translates well to learning an NFL playbook.
Still, that dark cloud feeling that hangs over Clemson is real. Despite Klubnik’s abilities, the Tigers barely scraped their way into the playoffs and were promptly ejected from the expanded affair. Wins may not be a quarterback stat to all, but seeing Clemson get back to its winning ways in dominant fashion would do wonders for his stock.
Like Manning to a degree, Klubnik is another quarterback the Steelers would have to trade up for, possibly as high as No. 2 overall. Historically, such a move doesn’t pay off as often as teams would like.
Drew Allar, Penn State
Penn State’s Drew Allar is a quarterback who might fly under the radar a bit until the season is over, unless he can orchestrate a national championship run with the Nittany Lions in 2025. Regardless, he’s got the size and athletic tools to be a comfortable first-round selection.
Allar also plays in an NFL-friendly offense, though most of the action does come out of shotgun, which isn’t nearly as big of a deal as it used to be. Nonetheless, he’s a safe pick among the crowd in this quarterback class, presuming he doesn’t regress without some of his featured options of yesteryear.
For my money in May 2025, Allar seems like the most likely option for the Steelers in next year’s draft. That doesn’t mean too much with the draft 11 months away, but Allar’s positioning in the class positions situates him as a comfortable trade-up option.
Effectively, Allar’s value will feasibly be in the back-half of the Top 10-12. If the Steelers are in their usual range of 20-22, the move up won’t be as pricey as the first two names we covered.
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Garrett Nussmeier, LSU
If you want a true pocket-passing gunslinger, Garrett Nussmeier is your guy. PFF credited him with 18 turnover-worthy plays in his first full season as the Tigers' starting quarterback.
Nussmeier has a lot to prove compared to his competitors in this class. LSU hasn’t returned to the national spotlight since Brian Kelly took over as head coach, and if Nussmeier’s play is a reason for that again in 2025, it’s going to reflect in his draft stock.
Still, Nussmeier plays in a true pro-style scheme and has every physical tool you can ask for. Scouts and analysts need to see more production to feel comfortable about his first-round status, which is far from assured.
A solid outing in 2025 will see his name rise in value, though I anticipate it will put him somewhere in the teens as far as draft positioning goes. That works out in the Steelers’ favor if they like what they see.
LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina
LaNorris Sellers has work to do as a passer and comes from a program without much historical relevance at the quarterback position. Still, he’s a name everyone needs to watch in the upcoming college football season.
Sellers is the unicorn-type prospect teams have been gravitating to over the past few draft cycles, for better or worse. PFF compared him to Anthony Richardson and Jalen Milroe to make that clear. He’s a frightening scrambler with a cannon of a right arm who still needs significant time to develop.
Still, Sellers could easily soar up the draft boards with an impressive showing in 2025. For Steelers fans to feel more confident about his play style, he’s going to have to limit the turnover-worthy plays. Still, it’s more likely than not that a trade-up for Sellers could be more expensive than a trade-up for Allar or Nussmeier.
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