Steelers Now
CBS’s latest way-too-earl 2026 mock draft has the Pittsburgh Steelers taking Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer at 13th overall. Among the way-too-early mock drafts, Mateer is a new quarterback mentioned for the QB-hungry Steelers.
“John Mateer has arguably the best arm talent in the entire draft class and goes to a division in the AFC North where that’s a necessity,” Mike Renner of CBS Sports wrote. “He showed growth in his first season as a starter and now has a chance to blow up in his first season with the Sooners after transferring from Washington State.”
Mateer transferred to Oklahoma from Washington State. Last year at Washington State, he completed 224 of 347 pass attempts (64.6%) for 3,139 yards, 29 touchdowns, seven interceptions, and a passer rating of 164.1. He also rushed 178 times for 826 yards (4.6 average) and 15 touchdowns.
In Oklahoma’s season opening 35-3 win over Illinois State, Mateer completed 30 of 37 passes (81.1%) for 392 yards with three touchdowns, one interception, and a passer rating of 191.4.
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.
Mateer hasn’t been mentioned much previously, but his stock is rising. If he turns heads in SEC competition, he very well could be a top 15 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Field Yates of ESPN has the Steelers landing LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier at 16th overall in his way-too-early 2026 NFL mock draft.
“This would be the second time in three years we saw six quarterbacks in the top half of Round 1. But hey, there are a lot of QB-needy teams picking early, and there are a lot of really good QB prospects potentially available. And Aaron Rodgers recently said this could be his last NFL season, probably making QB a primary need in Pittsburgh next offseason,” Yates wrote.
“Nussmeier — the son of Saints offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier — is like a point guard on the field, playing with elite processing skills and very good accuracy. He lacks dynamic athleticism and has just solid arm strength, but he is still able to deliver the ball on time and to spots where his receivers can create after the catch. Nussmeier — who is dealing with patellar tendinitis — threw for 4,052 yards and 29 touchdowns last season at LSU.’
Nussmeier completed 28 of 38 (73.7%) passes for 230 yards, one touchdown, no interceptions, and a passer rating of 133.2 rating in LSU’s 17-10 win over Clemson on Saturday night.
Todd McShay of The Ringer has Indiana dual-threat Fernando Mendoza landing with the Steelers at 15th overall in his way-too-early 2026 mock draft. Mendoza continues to be mentioned as a rising player in next year’s draft.
“Aaron Rodgers is a one-year solution, and sixth-round round pick Will Howard looks more like a good...
