The Pittsburgh Steelers have so many questions that need to be answered now that Mike Tomlin is no longer in town. A new era under 62 year old head coach Mike McCarthy is officially underway, and he has already completed filling out his coaching staff. Steeler Nation is beginning to get a clearer understanding of the direction McCarthy plans to take in Year One based on how he assembled that staff, blending experience with familiarity and a clear emphasis on structure and accountability.
Matt Freed / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Steelers' new head coach, Mike McCarthy addresses the media in his introductory press conference.
Another major phase of the transition comes through roster building, where the biggest questions are often answered. Free agency will be critical, but so will the 2026 NFL Draft, which will be hosted in the Steel City for the first time ever. With the spotlight firmly on Pittsburgh, McCarthy will be looking to make noise and improve the roster alongside General Manager Omar Khan, and assistant general manager, Andy Weidl, a front office duo that has already shown a willingness to be aggressive and creative.
The quarterback position will naturally dominate much of the conversation moving forward, even if the Steelers do not address it early. According to Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo, the team could take a low risk swing late in the draft by targeting Iowa quarterback Mark Gronowski in the seventh round. Gronowski is viewed as a worrisome prospect by some evaluators, but in a new era defined by calculated gambles and long term vision, Pittsburgh may see value in developing him quietly behind the scenes.
"Could the Steelers draft a quarterback earlier? Sure," Fittipaldo said in his mock draft for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Thursday. "If not, Gronowski could develop behind Rodgers and Will Howard. Drafting a quarterback likely makes Mason Rudolph expendable, but the biggest part of the equation is Mike McCarthy’s comfort level with Howard being one snap away from being the starter."
The Steelers drafted Will Howard in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, and McCarthy clearly sees potential in him. They also have Mason Rudolph still under contract. However, the question remains whether that belief in, Howard and Rudolph, is strong enough to pass on drafting another late round quarterback and continue focusing on developing younger options with significant upside.
Smiley N. Pool / Dallas Morning News
Former Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers hugs his old head coach Mike McCarthy after their team won a big professional football contest.
Of course, the decision Aaron Rodgers makes in the near future will largely determine what Pittsburgh ultimately does at quarterback in the draft.
"We don’t know the Steelers’ plans at quarterback yet, but we might get more clarity at the [NFL] Combine in a week or so when McCarthy will speak for the first time since his introductory news conference," Fittipaldo said.
What makes Gronowski such a frightening prospect is the simple fact that his draft stock completely collapsed in a short span of time. He went from starring at South Dakota State and being discussed as a possible top NFL Draft pick after the 2024 college football season to not even receiving a Combine invite following his 2025 season at Iowa.
Gronowski transferred with hopes of elevating the Hawkeyes’ struggling offense, but his production was pedestrian, making his NFL scouting report difficult to evaluate.
During the 2025 college football season, Gronowski threw for just 1,741 passing yards, completing 63.4 percent of his passes while totaling 10 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Those numbers raise obvious red flags, especially when viewed in the context of a full season against Big Ten competition.
Scouts are now left trying to determine whether the drop in production was simply a product of Iowa’s limited offensive system or a sign that Gronowski struggled when the level of competition increased.
Steelers Should Turn The Other Cheek
For the Steelers, taking a late round quarterback swing is not necessarily a bad idea, especially in a draft class without clear depth at the position. However, Gronowski does not appear to be one of the more intriguing developmental options available, given his recent trajectory and lack of upward momentum.
USA TODAY NETWORK / Imagn Images / Iowa City Press
Former Iowa QB Mark Gronowski rolls out with the football.
Pittsburgh may be better served targeting a quarterback whose arrow is still pointing up rather than one who enters the league with so many unanswered questions.
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