Steelers Get Urgent Message From Ben Roethlisberger About Possible Early-Round Draft Mistake

The Pittsburgh Steelers are just under a month away from the NFL Draft, where they hold an astounding 12 picks. The team has been mocked to go a plethora of different directions with their first-round selection, as there isn't necessarily a glaring need. However, Pittsburgh is still awaiting a decision from its starter from last year, Aaron Rodgers.  There has been a lot of speculation that the Steelers could go quarterback in round one, if Rodgers doesn't return to the team.

The Steelers won the AFC North and hosted a playoff game in 2025 with Rodgers under center. The 42-year-old signal-caller had a positive season overall, and it seems the team wouldn't mind having him back for another run. His decision still looms over the heads of Steelers fans hoewver, as they are unsure of what his next steps are going to be. In the meantime, the team has been speculated to use their first-rounder on a quarterback, with Ty Simpson being the most common option. 

Legendary Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger recently urged the team to hold off on taking a quarterback in the first round. He argued that the team needed to focus on building the roster up for a future quarterback to be plugged into, as it happened for him. Roethlisberger explained his thoughts on an episode of the Deebo & Joe podcast on Tuesday.

"I don't think the Steelers should take a quarterback early in this draft by any means. Maybe add someone just in the fourth or somewhere just to add somebody," Roethlisberger said. "I think you should build a team and plug a quarterback into it."

The Steelers currently have Will Howard as an option should Rodgers retire, and many fans believe that he should be given a shot. However, even if Rodgers doesn't come back, many pundits believe drafting a quarterback in the first round this year just isn't a smart decision for the team in the long-term. 

This year's quarterback draft class is considered by many to be fairly weak, with a clear-cut number one pick, and the rest being project pieces. The Steelers would be wise to wait until next year for another young arm. Reaching at pick 21 would only hurt the team, as they attempt to build a roster around a prospect, potentially coming in 2027. The Steelers will still have a solid team around Rodgers if he plays. The other option is giving Howard a shot to prove himself. This wouldn't be a bad look, as the front office has added quality pieces to the offense in free agency so far this offseason.

In the draft, Pittsburgh can continue to load up the offense with young talent. This will take the pressure off any quarterback, but especially a young one like Howard. This strategy that Roethlisberger alluded to seems to be the one that Pittsburgh is going with, based on just the official moves so far. Rodgers' decision will dictate who plays quarterback, but the ultimate plan is becoming clear. 

Steelers Have Built For Howard In Case Rodgers Retires

The Steelers' front office has made it a point that they needed to add more capable weapons to the offense. Last season, at times, it seemed that the lack of weapons was very apparent as the offense sputtered frequently. Omar Khan and his staff have made aggressive moves this offseason to ensure that there's more help on the offensive side of the ball. This includes trading for former Colts receiver Michael Pittman Jr. The Steelers lacked depth at receiver, and this move just gives whoever is under center another great option to throw to.

The Steelers added players like Pittman to make the offensive unit better. They underwhelmed last year, and no matter the quarterback, the offense is set up much better for success this season. An offense that let many down and kept the defense on the field way too long last year may be a strong point for the Steelers in 2026. 

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