Steelers' 2026 QB Plans Have New Twist After NFL Scouting Combine Changes Everything

The Pittsburgh Steelers haven't been able to figure out the quarterback position in recent years. The team is still looking for a long-term signal-caller, and that search may continue into the 2027 offseason. The 2026 draft class is not necessarily stout, free agency is thin, and Aaron Rodgers seems to be the best option for the organization if they're still looking to "win now." The front office will get more clarity from the four-time NFL MVP in the coming days and weeks, but it was still interesting for fans to keep an eye on some passers that participated in the recent 2026 Scouting Combine that took place in Indianapolis.

Ty Simpson has consistently been a name that Steelers fans have talked about; however, reaching for him in round one has the potential of leading to another Kenny Pickett situation. During the Combine, executives and coaches all get together which leads to plenty of conversation that eventually makes its way to the public via sources and/or reporting.

On Monday, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette insider Gerry Dulac wrote about what the Steelers are thinking in relation to the quarterback position. Pittsburgh's brass is only looking at one player as if he should have a first-round grade, and it's not Simpson. The consensus top selection in Fernando Mendoza is the only individual that Omar Khan and co. allegedly truly believe in.

"The Steelers have little if no intention of taking a quarterback with their top pick because they think there is only one — Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza — worthy of going in the first round," Dulac wrote. "But just because they wouldn’t draft a quarterback in the first round,doesn’t mean they wouldn’t take one from among the four picks they have in Day 2. However, it’s more than likely it wouldn’t be until the third round."

Dulac continued to discuss what the vibe in the building is. It appears as if unless someone really jumps off the page as being more formidable than Will Howard, it makes no sense for the organization to take a quarterback too early.

"If they did, it would only be because they believe that quarterback has a higher ceiling than Will Howard, last year’s sixth-round quarterback who continues to get lots of praise from the Steelers hierarchy."

This certainly will put some Steelers fans' minds at ease. The threat of possibly reaching in the first round once again is something that hasn't been received well. Now, one of the team's most well-connected beat writers is suggesting that Pittsburgh has no true intentions of investing time into a rookie.

The insider provided a little more context about the Steelers' interest at the Combine. Simpson, Drew Allar and Carson Beck were the individuals that sat down with the franchise.

"The Steelers met with three quarterbacks at the Combine in Indianapolis — Alabama’s Ty Simpson, Penn State’s Drew Allar and Miami’s Carson Beck. According to various sources, Mike McCarthy’s handling of the interviews was detailed, interrogative and impressive."

Both Allar and Beck won't be expected to hear their names called until late on Friday or at some point on Saturday of the draft. Simpson is a bit more interesting, but the Steelers would apparently have to really like him — and he would have to fall into the second round — for Pittsburgh to even consider selecting him. Things an change; however, this is where things sit a week prior to free agency kicking off.

Steelers' Reported Intentions Hint At A Rodgers Return

Sure, Pittsburgh seems to be high on Howard, but the real reason that the decision-makers may not be very interested by quarterback prospects is because they already know of Rodgers' plans. It makes sense for him to return for one more season, and then the team could focus on letting Howard and a 2027 rookie battle it out for the starting gig in 2027. Overall, as each week passes, it appears that it will get less likely that the Steelers will draft a signal-caller in 2026 -- at least in the early rounds.

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