Steelers Now
The 2026 NFL Draft class is absolutely loaded with talent. The class could include Texas’ Arch Manning, Penn State’s Drew Allar, South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers, LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier, Clemson’s Cade Klubnik, Arizona State’s Sam Leavitt, UCLA’s Nico Iamaleava, Oregon’s Dante Moore and Miami’s Carson Beck.
The Pittsburgh Steelers, who are in desperate need of a franchise quarterback, will have their eyes set on several of the top college QBs this fall.
Kyle Crabbs of the 33rd Team has the Steelers selecting LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier at 16th overall in his way-too-early 2026 mock draft.
“Pittsburgh appears to be angling for the Aaron Rodgers band-aid,” Crabbs wrote. “The team bypassed quarterbacks early before securing Will Howard on Day 3. Howard is a good add at that stage of the game, but Nussmeier was trending towards a potential first-round ticket last season before falling apart down the stretch.”
Nussmeier was the fourth quarterback off the board in Crabbs’ mock draft. Three QBs went in the top 10 — LaNorris Sellers to the Cleveland Browns at No. 1 overall, Drew Allar to the New Orleans Saints at No. 2 overall and Archie Manning to the Indianapolis Colts at eighth overall.
LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier throwing with Anticipation to send the game to OT. pic.twitter.com/qFdNZPtppu
— Derrick (@Steelers_DB) May 4, 2025
Nussmeier, who stands at 6-foot-2, 200 pounds, completed 64.2% of his passes for 4,052 yards with 29 touchdowns, 12 interceptions and passer rating of 142.7 in his first season as a starter at LSU.
Eighteen-year NFL Scout and former director of the Reese’s Senior Bowl, Jim Nagy, thought Nussmeier had the “highest ceiling in the NFL Draft” when it came to the quarterback class in 2025. Nussmeier decided to play another year at LSU, however.
Dane Brugler of The Athletic, who also has the Steelers landing Nussmeier in the first round in his way-too-early 2026 mock draft, sees shades of Tony Romo in the LSU signal-caller.
“I see so much Tony Romo with him. Wouldn’t be shocked at a similar career,” Brugler wrote on X.
Ryan Edwards of CBS Sports has the Steelers selecting UCLA quarterback Nico Iamaleava at 16th overall in his way-too-soon 2026 mock draft, while Pro Football Focus has Pittsburgh selecting Penn State quarterback Drew Allar at 14th overall in their way-too-early 2026 mock draft.
One thing is clear: All signs point to the Steelers landing their next franchise quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft. They’ll have plenty of options, too.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Steelers Land LSU Star QB in Way-Too-Early 2026 Mock Draft
