Steelers Get Horrifying News Ahead Of Crucial 2027 Offseason

The Pittsburgh Steelers are still focused on the 2026 season, but that doesn't mean that they aren't making preparations for 2027 and beyond. Primarily, they are still looking for a quarterback of the future with quarterback Aaron Rodgers likely retiring. The primary reason that they brought in Head Coach Mike McCarthy was so he could develop a young passer, since many regard him as a "QB whisperer." It's clear that the team has been unable to get any sort of stability at that position in recent years, whether they bring in young guys or veterans to run the team. 

McCarthy's title of "QB whisperer" is going to get challenged quickly. In the latest edition of The Sweep with Tom Pelissero, insider Tom Pelissero wrote about how dire everything is looking for the quarterback class.

"What they’ve seen from [Arch] Manning on Saturdays is emblematic of a vaunted class of QB prospects for 2027 that seems to be deteriorating by the week," Pelissero said. "Several high-ranking NFL executives and scouts expressed skepticism this week that some, if not a majority, of the projected top QBs will even enter the 2027 NFL draft. That includes Manning, who was the clear preseason favorite to be the No. 1 pick. He has struggled enough recently that his grip on the Longhorns’ starting job could even be in jeopardy."

There's no doubt that the 2027 quarterback class has been nothing short of disappointing so far. Pelissero mentioned that Arch Manning may end up getting benched soon for poor play, as he has yet to come close to reaching expectations. It's starting to look like his last name is the biggest reason for his hype, as he has yet to truly show off what everyone thought he could do on the field.

It's not just Manning, though. Pelissero went through the list of potential first-round quarterbacks and explained how they are struggling. Between the constant decline in hype around these passers, as well as the Steelers likely picking around the same spot they usually do, the odds of them securing a top-flight passer in the 2027 NFL Draft is slim to none. They may have to go bargain bin hunting again. 

What makes this even more infuriating for fans is that this will likely be the exact same scenario as it was in the 2026 NFL Draft: all the top-flight quarterbacks either lose hype or stay in school for one more year -- and if any quarterback does look good enough to draft early, the Steelers won't be in position to make a move for him. We may be in an era where "draft and develop" just doesn't work for the passer position anymore.

That's where McCarthy comes in. If he truly is this quarterback guru that he is hyped to be, he should be able to take a high-risk, high-reward prospect and turn him into a capable starter. It wouldn't be surprising to see the Steelers take a flier on a project quarterback in Day 2 of the draft and run him through "McCarthy's QB School" to see if he can develop into anything in a few years.

Steelers' 2027 Starter Is Likely On The Roster Already

The Steelers already have a player exactly like the one that they may end up drafting. Drew Allar is a physically gifted quarterback with strength and mobility comparable to Josh Allen. What's not comparable, however, are the mechanics. Allar is a massive project that will take years to work on. He may be on a contract year before he's even half as good as Allen is. 

At a certain point, the Steelers have to give the young guns a shot and see what they have. Allar and Will Howard could battle it out to see who the starting quarterback for the 2027 season will be while a rookie comes in and goes through the QB school as the third-string option. Either way, the only thing that is certain with this position group is that there will be more uncertainty up ahead.

What do you think about the state of the 2027 quarterback class? Let us know on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.

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