ESPN Predicts Steelers Are Destined To Land 1st Round Bust Quarterback In 2026

The Pittsburgh Steelers are one of the teams in the NFL that don't exactly have their long-term quarterback situation figured out. It is clear that Aaron Rodgers is going to be the starter in 2025, and that could go well, but the future of the position is fairly bleak in Pittsburgh. Rodgers is only under contract for one season, and there is no guarantee that he will play well while lining up under center for the Steelers. In 2026, fans are hoping that the Steelers will be able to find their franchise quarterback, and that could come from the 2026 NFL Draft, or a player already on the roster, like Will Howard.

Howard will likely be in the quarterback room going into the 2026 season, but that is arguably the only guarantee. The Steelers are also expected to have 12 draft picks in 2026 that can be used to trade up in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, so a quarterback could be acquired from there. 

The franchise could also bring in another player from around the league, and a prime candidate would probably be Anthony Richardson of the Indianapolis Colts, which was recently pointed out by ESPN analyst Kevin Clark.

"You don't give Daniel Jones $14 million unless he's in a competition," Clark said. "That's just the way quarterback salaries work in this league. He's thrown, Anthony Richardson, 348 passes in the NFL, in his first two years. That is the second-lowest of any top 10 pick in the last 20 years. Trey Lance is the only player with less pass attempts. He needs to play more football. I've never seen anybody more destined to be in the 2026 Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback competition than Anthony Richardson. I'm looking at this and I'm seeing a training camp where Daniel Jones will probably start with the ones. There's job preservation now going on in Indianapolis."

The Colts signed Daniel Jones in free agency during the 2025 offseason, and it was just recently reported that Richardson is struggling with some shoulder issues. That has been the main concern for Richardson throughout his career; the constant injuries paired with inconsistent play. The quarterback has only played in 15 games over his first two seasons, which is not what Indianapolis wanted to see after selecting him with the fourth overall pick in 2023.

Richardson has always had issues with his accuracy when throwing the ball. The reason he went so high in the 2023 NFL Draft was because of his size and athleticism, which is unlike anything that has been seen at the quarterback position.

His current injury is expected to keep him out until training camp, but it could be longer. This would put Jones in line to be the starter for the Colts in 2025, which could end Richardson's time with the organization. This would pave the way towards him eventually being on the Steelers' roster with Pittsburgh likely acquiring him via trade during the 2026 offseason. That probably wouldn't be the best move for the organization, but it would be an interesting situation to follow.

Steelers Must Avoid Reclamation Projects At Quarterback

Pittsburgh is desperate for a franchise quarterback, and the fan base is hoping the organization can find one within the next couple of seasons. That could come from a quarterback competition prior to the 2026 season, but Richardson should not be a part of it. The competition should consist of Howard and whatever quarterback Pittsburgh is able to draft highly in 2026. 

Richardson would likely just be a distraction, and there is no guarantee he would even be able to make it through a competition healthy. The Steelers would also avoid giving up any draft compensation in a trade if they decided not to pursue Richardson, although it probably wouldn't be much anyways.

What do you think about Richardson possibly coming to Pittsburgh next year? Would you be happy with that? Let us know in the comments below!

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