Sportsnaut
The Pittsburgh Steelers hitched their quarterback plans for the 2025 season entirely to Aaron Rodgers, waiting months for the veteran to finally decide he’d play. There’s reportedly a very different plan in place for next year.
Reporting for the Pat McAfee Show, Mark Kaboly said that the Steelers’ organization plans to use their first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on a quarterback.
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While the Steelers are high on rookie quarterback Will Howard, the 158th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, he’s widely viewed as a long-term backup. The team also signed Mason Rudolph to a two-year deal this offseason, but he’s a veteran backup.
Fortunately for Pittsburgh, the 2026 quarterback class is currently viewed as being significantly stronger than this past class. Multiple signal-callers—Cade Klubnik, Garrett Nussmeier, and LaNorris Sellers—are viewed as potential top-10 picks. In addition, Fernando Mendoza and Drew Allar are viewed as likely first-round picks.
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Rodgers has already indicated that the 2025 season will likely be his last in the NFL. Pittsburgh seemed to view this as a one-year run, with its eyes on finding a franchise quarterback next year. This will give the Steelers’ front office ample time to scout the 2026 quarterback class.
The Steelers have taken seven quarterbacks in the first round in their history, most recently selecting Kenny Pickett with the 20th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. If Pittsburgh takes a quarterback in the first round next year, it will be the first time they’ve done so in the same decade since the 1950s.
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