Insider: Steelers Will Finally Make Fans Happy With Draft Strategy For 2026

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been in a tough spot as a franchise over the last several seasons as the team has been just good enough to be on the fringe of the playoffs, but not truly good enough to compete for or win a Super Bowl. They haven't even been able to win a singular playoff game since the 2016 campaign. It has been a frustrating time for the fan base as it has called for change constantly, but it has also been impressive to see how good Pittsburgh can be without a true franchise quarterback ever since the retirement of Ben Roethlisberger following the 2021 season.

The Steelers did not really have a plan for when Roethlisberger retired after the was the team's primary starting quarterback for 18 seasons. Pittsburgh went out and signed Mitch Trubisky, then drafted Kenny Pickett in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, but neither of those options proved to be a solution. Neither was Mason Rudolph who was already on the roster. Pittsburgh continued forward with that trio for two seasons, but the organization moved on to a combination of Justin Fields and Russell Wilson in 2024. That situation lost its steam, and the Steelers went out and signed Aaron Rodgers for the 2025 season this past June.

It has been a common trend for Pittsburgh to chase down veteran options at quarterback, and the fan base has grown tired of that. Fans want the organization to find the future at the position, and team insider Gerry Dulac believes the franchise will attempt to do that during the 2026 offseason. Dulac was asked whether or not the organization would look to draft a quarterback, or go after a veteran like Kyler Murray.

"Yes," Dulac said when asked if the team will pursue drafting a quarterback. "And I sure as heck hope not. Kyler Murray is nothing more than a good backup."

Dulac seems certain the organization will go after a quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft, even though the quarterback class is not considered to be all that great. There was a lot of preseason hype surrounding the group, but the college football season was not very impressive when it came to quarterback play.

Any quarterback situation for the 2026 season all falls under the assumption that Rodgers will be retiring, which could wind up not happening. He has hinted at retirement in the past, but nothing has been confirmed. Either way, it is safe to assume that the franchise must start planning for the future.

The Steelers will likely be picking in their usual spot, barring a win in Week 18 and then an unprecedented playoff run. They will be right in the spot where the class' top quarterbacks are just out of reach, which could make the franchise reach like it did for Pickett back in 2022. 

A rookie quarterback brings some excitement, and for a season it feels like wins don't really matter as long as that rookie is making plays. Every fan wants their team to find its franchise quarterback, and this is a sign that the Steelers are ready to start doing so.

Steelers' Best Shot At Landing A Quarterback In 2026 Draft Is Likely Ty Simpson

Ty Simpson of Alabama is probably the quarterback that could fall to Pittsburgh wherever they wind up picking in the late-teens or early-20s. He is not seen as a top-prospect, but he is viewed by some to be a first-round pick. Alabama is still alive in the playoffs, so there is a chance that his draft stock might rise out of the Steelers' range throughout the remainder of the postseason.

What do you think about the Steelers going after a rookie quarterback? Let us know in the comments below!

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