The Pittsburgh Steelers have been stuck in the same spot as a franchise for the last several years, and that has really been the case ever since the retirement of Ben Roethlisberger following the 2021 season. Pittsburgh did not really have a backup plan for when Roethlisberger decided to retire, and the organization was forced to reach and draft quarterback Kenny Pickett in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft. The expectations were high for the young quarterback, and things never really panned out in Pittsburgh. Pickett was eventually traded away after just two seasons.
Matt Starkey / Cleveland Browns
Former Browns quarterback Kenny Pickett works out in Cleveland during the 2025 offseason.
Pickett's career has fallen apart, and it has been made quite clear that he never really should have been a first-round selection. Pittsburgh needs to be careful not to fall into that trap again as the franchise needs a quarterback, but the draft class is fairly weak at the position for 2026. Many mock drafts have the Steelers looking to add at wide receiver with the 21st overall pick, but Field Yates believes the Steelers will land former Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson in the first round, which he mentioned in a recent mock draft for ESPN.
"I think the Steelers could take a chance on him here," Yates wrote. "They might bring back quarterback Aaron Rodgers if he doesn't retire, but that is far from a certainty. And while new head coach Mike McCarthy has praised Will Howard, he was a sixth-round pick last year. It feels unlikely Pittsburgh would completely anchor its future around him."
The Crimson White / Clara Kee
Former Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson celebrates after scoring a touchdown during a home game in 2025.
Simpson can certainly be seen in the same level of talent as Pickett, although Simpson might be a better overall athlete. Regardless, he probably should not be picked on the first day of the draft, and the only quarterback that should is Fernando Mendoza. Outside of him, there is no clear cut first-round quarterbacks.
Yates spoke more about Simpson, and some of the young quarterback's pros and cons.
"One of the most pressing questions of this draft is how high Simpson will go," Yates said. "He was entrenched in the top 10 conversation midseason before a significant second-half slide. The pros for Simpson? He can throw with pristine accuracy, improvises in the pocket and has enough arm strength to drive the ball downfield. The cons? His decision-making waned down the stretch, as he had four interceptions and a combined 62.6% completion percentage in Alabama's final six games."
Against the best competition, Simpson struggled as mentioned. That is not a good sign for a quarterback attempting to enter the NFL, and it certainly isn't a characteristic of a potential first-round pick.
Steelers Could Avoid Any Quarterback Drama By The Time The 2026 NFL Draft Comes Around
Aaron Rodgers returning for the Steelers in 2026 is still a possibility, and it sounds like it is something that the veteran quarterback is seriously considering. The only two quarterbacks under contract for the 2026 season currently are Mason Rudolph and Will Howard, and the franchise is going to have to add at least one more.
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Steelers' Aaron Rodgers walks off the field after a brutal loss to the Houston Texans in the Wild Card Round.
Rodgers deciding to sign back with the franchise would be the most ideal scenario, rather than making the organization wait for a second season in a row.
What do you think about the Steelers potentially taking a chance on Simpson? Let us know in the comments below!
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