Steelers Zero In On The 2026 NFL Draft's Best-Kept Secret At QB Following Latest News

There’s been plenty of discussion and debate about what direction the Pittsburgh Steelers will take in the 2026 NFL Draft. With significant draft capital and a new leader in Mike McCarthy, the time is now to shape this roster into a playoff contender. It’s no secret the Steelers haven’t won a playoff game since the 2016 season. That drought is approaching a full decade, and for a franchise with Pittsburgh’s standards, that simply isn’t acceptable.

The expectation in Pittsburgh is always Super Bowl or bust, and Team President Art Rooney II has made it clear that’s the mindset McCarthy is bringing into his first season at the helm in the Steel City. This isn’t viewed as a rebuild. The organization believes it is only a few pieces away from serious contention. Whether that proves true remains to be seen, but Rooney has no interest in wasting a season finding out. The biggest question, as always, centers on the quarterback position.

Aaron Rodgers could return for the 2026 season, but nothing is certain. If he doesn’t, Mason Rudolph and Will Howard are currently in the mix. Still, there’s growing buzz that Pittsburgh could target a quarterback in the 2026 draft. One intriguing under-the-radar name now connected to the Steelers is North Dakota State’s Cole Payton. 

According to Dom Izzo, the Steelers sent assistant coach Tom Arth and scout Jim Ward to his pro day, which doesn’t guarantee strong interest, but it’s notable enough to turn heads. At 6-foot-3 and 232 pounds, Payton has the physical tools that warrant a closer look, and it’s clear Pittsburgh is doing its homework on one of the draft’s best-kept secrets.

Lance Zierlein offered some intriguing evaluations of the prospect. He highlighted key strengths that make the quarterback an appealing sleeper in this class. At the same time, his analysis pointed out areas for development that could shape how teams view his long-term potential.

"Payton is a dual-threat, single-season FCS starter with good size. He’s a lefty with shoddy mechanics and subpar arm talent, but he still manages to deliver throws with touch to all three levels," Zierlein said in his analysis of Payton. "He lacks drive velocity to dot throws into tight windows and might not have the timing needed to outfox pro zone defenders, though. He’s not shifty, but excels when short yardage is needed and has build-up speed for explosive runs once he gets rolling. Payton projects as a QB3 and will require packaged plays to take advantage of his rushing ability until he proves himself a functional pocket passer."

It doesn’t sound like he expects Payton to develop into a starter, but he sees him as a potential backup. However, Payton helped himself big time during his Pro Day on Thursday according to Izzo.

Steelers May Draft QB On Day 3

It’s interesting to note that the Steelers are taking a closer look at the prospect. He’s projected to be a late Day 3 pick, so Pittsburgh could either take a low-risk flier on him, or potentially sign him if he goes undrafted in the 2026 NFL Draft. 

He’s an intriguing prospect, and if he ends up in Pittsburgh, it would give McCarthy another developmental piece to work with alongside Howard. There’s been a ton of debate about what will ultimately happen at quarterback. The 2026 NFL Draft should give Steelers fans a much clearer answer.

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