Steelers' 2026 Quarterback Search Off To Difficult Start After Inconsistencies In Death Valley

The Pittsburgh Steelers have a major question mark at the quarterback position following the 2025 season. The Steelers signed 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers to a one-year deal back in June, but Rodgers is likely going to retire at the end of the year. Pittsburgh has been rumored to have plans of targeting a quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft as there are expected to be a number of promising quarterbacks available on draft day.

Two of the top quarterback prospects in the country faced off last night in Clemson's Death Valley. Cade Klubnik and Garrett Nussmeier headlined one of the most talked about games in all of college football in Clemson v.s. LSU. Klubnik had his moments, but Nussmeier is widely considered to have outperformed Clemson's star quarterback last night.

Nussmemier is believed to be the better NFL prospect of the two as well.

Both quarterbacks have an extremely promising future regardless of Saturday's matchup. Nussmeier certainly looked more comfortable than Klubnik did, and the young quarterback was able to make a number of impressive plays throughout the course of the night. Nussmeier is expected to be higher than Klubnik on the draft board as of now, but both quarterbacks could emerge as legitimate options for the Steelers in 2026.

Klubnik seemed to have struggled with his decision-making for a large portion of the night. There was even one instance where the Clemson quarterback threw into double coverage while having a wide open receiver essentially right in front of him. Mistakes are a good thing at this point in college football, as both Klubnik and Nussmeier will have an entire season in front of them to make adjustments and play at a higher level.

Steelers' Multiple Third Round Picks In 2026 Could Be Used To Draft Or Trade Up For A Quarterback

Earlier in the 2025 offseason the Steelers traded George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange of a third round pick in 2026. That pick may prove to be a major weapon come draft night, as Pittsburgh now has more ammunition to trade up in an attempt to get a quarterback. Nussmeier is expected to be one of the top picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, so a trade could prove to be necessary if the Steelers opt to draft the LSU star.

Klubnik could find his draft stock slowly start to decline should he struggle for the majority of the season. Both prospects are believed to go in the first round by many, but a few bad games in a row could easily change that for either quarterback. Pittsburgh will have multiple picks in 2026 alongside the two third rounders, as the Steelers are likely to draft a quarterback at some point during next years' draft.

Both Klubnik and Nussmeier are stars on the college level and will continue making a name for themselves throughout 2025. The Steelers could trade up in next years' draft if Nussmeier's projections have him going top ten, as the LSU quarterback could have an easier transition to the NFL than Klubnik. The Steelers are expected to leave all options open prior to the draft and could very well emerge as either star quarterbacks' landing spot.

Would you like to see the Steelers draft Klubnik or Nussmeier? Do you think Pittsburgh should trade up in the draft to acquire either one if necessary? Let us know in the comments down below!

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