CBS Draft Analyst Believes Steelers Will Select Elite Quarterback In 2026 NFL Draft

The Pittsburgh Steelers have yet to play a game in the 2025 NFL season,  but that hasn't stopped some fans and analysts from looking toward the 2026 offseason already. It makes sense; the Steelers are projected to hold 12 picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, which is taking place in Pittsburgh. They are in desperate need of a franchise quarterback after signing 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers, and next year's class looks promising.

It's easy to connect the dots and come to the conclusion that the Steelers will likely target a quarterback in the first round in April, making them one of the more intriguing teams to follow in 2025 and beyond. While Steeler nation looks for a quarterback, one analyst believes that the Steelers might be targeting a 21-year-old with tantalizing arm talent.

CBS Draft Analyst Mike Renner put together a 2026 preseason mock draft, in which he had the Steelers selecting Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer with the 13th pick in the draft. Mateer is coming off of a breakout season with his former team Washington State, throwing for 29 touchdowns and just seven interceptions. Known for his impressive arm talent, Mateer is widely thought to be one of the first quarterbacks off the board in 2026. 

In his debut game with Oklahoma on August 30th, the young signal caller threw for 392 yards (a career high), three touchdowns, and one interception. His nearly 400 yards set an Oklahoma record for most passing yards in a debut, surpassing Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield. 

While Mateer is off to a promising start with his new Oklahoma team, he will have to carry his momentum forward against tougher competition - a common criticism that he received coming out of Washington State. The Sooners will face the Michigan Wolverines on September 6th, giving him the opportunity to showcase his talents against one of the most difficult defenses he will have faced in his young career.

Steelers Have Haul of Picks Headed Into 2026 NFL Draft

While Renner has the Steelers selecting Mateer with the 13th overall pick in the draft, there's a high likelihood that the Steelers will be selecting much later - making their 12 projected draft picks all the more important. In a press conference in July, Steelers' General Manager Omar Khan made it clear that he isn't interested in parting with his 2026 draft picks, if it comes at the cost of getting a quarterback. 

"We've always kept in mind what our draft capital situation would be next year," Khan said. "We're staring at probably 10 to 12 picks next year. We weren't really willing to stray away from or give up too many of those picks with some of the stuff we've done."

While the talk of trading for players - especially a wide receiver - has gotten louder as the 2025 season approaches, Khan won't do it at the cost of the future. If the Steelers are picking in the 20s in the upcoming draft, which they've done the last 3 years in a row, the team will almost certainly need to trade up to get their passer of the future.

Mateer isn't the only quarterback who has been mocked to the Steelers, and the upcoming college football season will be one of the more important ones for Pittsburgh in recent years. Penn State quarterback Drew Allar, South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers, and LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier are just a few of the names that the team will have their eye on this fall. 

The 2026 draft will be one that decides the foreseeable future for the Pittsburgh Steelers, making it one of the most important in the team's recent history. If Khan can get the quarterback right, then the team will almost certainly go back to the success that the franchise is known for. If not, the Steelers will be doing this whole thing again in a couple of years.

What do you think of the Steelers' quarterback options for 2026? Let us know in the comments below!

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