The Pittsburgh Steelers have been making plenty of moves since the legal tampering window opened across the NFL. The franchise has already gone out and signed running back Rico Dowdle and cornerback Jamel Dean, while the organization acquired Michael Pittman Jr. earlier in the day via trade. The franchise is trying to improve the roster and find a way out of the constant state of mediocrity that it has found itself, but there are still major questions at quarterback. It is hard to feel good about any team in the league if there is a question mark at quarterback, as it is the most important position in the sport.
Matt Freed / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Steelers General Manager Omar Khan and Owner Art Rooney II on the field at a team practices while having a discussion.
The main name that has been followed when it comes to the quarterback position in Pittsburgh has been Aaron Rodgers. The four-time league MVP played well for the Steelers in 2025, but he only signed a one-year deal during the 2025 offseason. The quarterback is currently a free agent, but he has not made up his mind on whether or not he wants to continue his playing career. The two quarterbacks currently on Pittsburgh's roster are Mason Rudolph and Will Howard, and there is a considerable amount of excitement surrounding Howard.
With the questions at quarterback and the uncertainty surrounding Rodgers, it would be irresponsible for the organization not to explore the quarterback market. According to Mike Garafolo during a segment on NFL Network, General Manager Omar Khan has been exploring the quarterback market around the league.
There are too many specifics about which quarterbacks Pittsburgh would consider bringing in, but it is fair to assume that list would include most of the high-level backups from around the league. Those guys have become hard to acquire over the last several years as it has become abundantly clear just how important the backup quarterback position can be.
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San Francisco 49ers quarterback Mac Jones throwing a pass in the first half of a preseason game against the Denver Broncos at Levi's Stadium.
The top backup quarterback in the NFL right now is probably Mac Jones of the San Francisco 49ers, but San Francisco has made it clear that the organization would like to keep him. The asking price is probably far too high as well. Other names that could be considered are guys like Tanner McKee and Tyson Bagent. Both players have some experience starting with their respective teams, and both players have looked decent at times.
Just because the Steelers might be in the market does not mean that the franchise is looking for a starting quarterback. It can be someone who is just being brought in to compete with Howard. Outside of the high-level backups, players on rookie contracts should also be considered. This includes guys like Will Levis, Jalen Milroe, or Joe Milton.
Another option is Kyler Murray after he is officially released by the Arizona Cardinals on Wednesday. He seems to have a strong connection with the Minnesota Vikings, but Pittsburgh signing him for the league minimum would be intriguing.
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Texans QB CJ Stroud celebrates after throwing a big time touchdown pass against the Pittsburgh Steelers in his rookie season.
Steelers Making A Splash At Quarterback Is Unlikely
There has been some murmurs about the potential of a player like CJ Stroud being traded, but the Houston Texans do not want to do that. He has regressed in his last two seasons after looking like a star during his rookie year in 2023, and some have speculated that the organization would be open to moving on from him due to his regression. A move like this would obviously be impressive for Pittsburgh, but it is very out of the ordinary that a quarterback of Stroud's stature would be moved during the offseason while still under contract.
It still feels more than likely that Rodgers will return to Pittsburgh at some point, but it is hard to predict anything about this team's quarterback situation.
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