Steelers To Make Daring First-Round Pick In Latest Mel Kiper Mock Draft

The Pittsburgh Steelers are in a unique position entering the 2026 season. Similarly, in the last season, the team enters free agency with uncertainty at the quarterback position. The Steelers waited on future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers to make his decision well into the offseason, where he ultimately decided to play for Pittsburgh, leading them to the AFC North title in the process. However, last offseason, the organization had no real options at the QB position, losing 2024 quarterback Justin Fields to the New York Jets as free agency started. This offseason, the Steelers are not privy to waiting for Rodgers' decision, and while they'd like him back, unlike last offseason, the Steelers have other legitimate options at quarterback, both on the roster, in free agency, and in this year's NFL Draft.

The Steelers are heading into 2026 with win-now expectations and a roster to match it. Whoever is under center for the 2026 Steelers should be operating a high-flying offense under new Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy. McCarthy's highly touted West Coast offense is a dream for quarterbacks. The offense frequently uses three-receiver sets and spreads the field in a high-powered attack. 

NFL Draft expert Mel Kiper has the Steelers taking a massive swing at the quarterback position in his latest mock draft.

"The Steelers have to think about the QB position with a longer-view lens," Kiper explained. "They could bring back Aaron Rodgers, or opt for another veteran stopgap to keep them in contention next season, but even if they go that route, they should still address their future at the position. [Ty] Simpson has just 15 starts to his name, and his 2025 season was uneven, but his game has a lot of promise. He navigates the pocket well and threw 28 touchdown passes to just five interceptions last season. Pittsburgh could let him learn behind a veteran for a little while before turning the offense over to him."

The Steelers using their first pick on a player who'd likely sit on the bench all season if Rodgers returns would be tough for fans to foresee. Every move the Steelers have made over the last few seasons has had a long-term view. However, if the Steelers view Simpson in the same light as Kiper, then it begins to get much easier to foresee the Steelers taking Simpson with their 21st overall pick of the first round. The Alabama quarterback was originally seen as a lock to be drafted with a top pick, but inconsistent play, especially over the latter half of his last season with Alabama, tanked his stock a bit. The Steelers would be banking on the upside of Simpson to set themselves up for the future.

Simpson would provide the Steelers with something that Rodgers lacks at this point in his career: significant mobility. If you look at the two teams that made this year's Super Bowl, the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks, they both lacked elite offensive line play, but made up for it with dual-threat quarterbacks in Sam Darnold and Drake Maye. The Steelers' lack of a mobile quarterback was very noticeable at times last season, especially in their 30-6 home playoff loss to the Houston Texans, where the Texans' defense wreaked havoc on the Steelers' offense and Rodgers. Some more mobility could be the key to maximizing McCarthy's offense.

Steelers Selecting Ty Simpson Would Be A Major Setback For Will Howard

Last year's sixth-round draft pick Will Howard has been spoken highly of by many within the Steelers organization and was able to sit behind and learn from Rodgers for all of last season. If the Steelers draft Simpson, Howard would likely be lost in the shuffle, and the team still has quarterback Mason Rudolph on the roster, whose roster spot is reportedly not in jeopardy.

Whether the Steelers draft Simpson or not will largely depend on how they feel about Howard as the potential answer at the quarterback position. While many around the organization has spoken highly of him, actions speak louder than words, and draft day will reveal all.

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