Insider Provides Steelers Warning About 2027 QB Plans

The Pittsburgh Steelers have spent years searching for a long-term answer at quarterback, and the organization could face another defining decision at the position following the 2026 season. With Aaron Rodgers nearing the end of his career, Pittsburgh must determine whether to trust its young quarterbacks or pursue another veteran capable of keeping the team competitive.

According to Steelers insider Mark Kaboly, the franchise cannot continue repeating the same cycle of bringing in quarterbacks without finding a permanent solution.

Speaking about Pittsburgh's quarterback outlook on 93.7 The Fan's PM Team w/Poni & Mueller, Kaboly explained why the team needs to break away from its revolving door at the position while weighing the possibility of acquiring Kirk Cousins.

"We can't keep doing this carousel of quarterbacks. We got to find ourselves one too. So that's a tough situation to put yourself in," Kaboly said. "You can still win now if you make this acquisition [of Kirk Cousins]. I guess the best-case scenario is you hope Allar is, but you won't know anything from Allar or Howard until you would have to make a decision, unless you'd go the June route again."

His comments highlight the difficult position the Steelers could find themselves in next offseason. Pittsburgh wants to remain competitive, but it also needs to establish a plan that extends beyond another short-term quarterback solution.

Cousins could offer an opportunity to accomplish the first objective. The veteran has extensive NFL starting experience, and bringing him aboard could give Pittsburgh a quarterback capable of helping the team compete immediately. However, such a move would also raise questions about how much confidence the organization has in Drew Allar and Will Howard.

The Steelers invested a third-round pick in Allar during the 2026 NFL Draft, while Howard remains another developmental option on the roster. Both quarterbacks represent possible paths toward the future, but neither has established himself as a proven NFL starter. That uncertainty is exactly what makes the decision so difficult.

If Pittsburgh believes Allar can become its next franchise quarterback, the organization must eventually give him a legitimate opportunity to prove it. However, handing the starting job to an inexperienced quarterback without a reliable alternative could create a difficult season if he is not ready.

On the other hand, signing another veteran could help the Steelers remain competitive while potentially delaying the moment when they learn whether either young quarterback can handle the job.

Kaboly's point is that Pittsburgh cannot keep making decisions that leave the franchise in the same position a year or two later. At some point, the Steelers need to identify a quarterback they believe can lead the organization for the foreseeable future.

Steelers Face A Defining Decision On Allar

Allar could be the most important piece of this entire discussion. Pittsburgh selected him with the No. 76 overall pick, making a meaningful investment in his potential to become a future starter. If the Steelers believe he has the necessary tools, the organization needs a plan for developing him and determining when he is ready to take over.

Kaboly acknowledged that Allar could represent the best-case scenario. If the young quarterback develops into a legitimate starter, Pittsburgh could avoid spending significant resources on another veteran and finally establish some continuity at the position.

The problem is that the Steelers cannot know for certain what they have until Allar receives meaningful opportunities. Practice and preseason performances can provide useful information, but they cannot completely replicate the demands of starting NFL games.

The same uncertainty applies to Howard, although Allar's third-round draft status gives him a different standing within the organization. Pittsburgh must evaluate both players while deciding how much experience it needs in the quarterback room.

That is where Cousins becomes an intriguing possibility. Rather than committing entirely to an unproven quarterback, the Steelers could acquire a veteran who gives them a chance to compete while mentoring the younger players as they continue developing.

However, Pittsburgh would need to consider the financial implications, the potential effect on Allar's playing opportunities and whether Cousins would represent a meaningful win now solution. If the move simply delays the same decision until another offseason, it could undermine the goal Kaboly described.

There is also the possibility of Pittsburgh waiting until June to address the position, as it did when Rodgers eventually joined the team. That approach could give the Steelers more time to evaluate the available options, but it would also risk leaving the quarterback situation unresolved deeper into the offseason.

Ultimately, the Steelers have several possible paths, and none comes without a risk, or multiple. They can give Allar and Howard an opportunity to compete, bring in a veteran such as Cousins or wait for the market to develop before making a decision.

What they cannot afford is to make another temporary move without a clear understanding of how it fits into the franchise's long-term plans. Pittsburgh has repeatedly searched for stability since Ben Roethlisberger retired. The next offseason could determine whether the organization finally commits to developing a young quarterback or once again turns to an established veteran in hopes of extending its competitive window.

Kaboly's warning is straightforward. Pittsburgh needs to find its quarterback, not simply find just another one to fill in. Whether that answer is already on the roster with Allar or requires an outside acquisition, the organization must make a decision that moves it closer to ending the carousel.

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