Steelers Could Now Have An Extremely Easy Path To A Quarterback In 2027

While the Pittsburgh Steelers add their finishing touches to their big board for the upcoming NFL Draft, it's also a good time to look at 2027 prospects. This is especially interesting for a team like the Steelers, who are likely going to be looking to solve their quarterback issue. With Aaron Rodgers almost certainly returning and the team possibly taking a late-round flyer on a quarterback in 2026, 2027 is likely the year for the franchise to finally pursue a long-term solution. The class is being hyped up as historic and one of the deepest in recent memory. The 2026 class was supposed to be too, but next time around, things should be different.

The top quarterback prospects for the 2027 class are likely going to be Arch Manning, Dante Moore, and Julian Sayin. With Moore and Manning returning for another year, they are expected to make big leaps in their development. As for Sayin, he was a starter for the first time in 2025 and will play another year in 2026 at the collegiate level as well. Unfortunately for the Steelers, they most likely won't land any of these three prospects, as they are all probably top-10-level picks. If all goes according to plan this season, Pittsburgh won't have a high enough draft pick to land any of the top prospects unless they trade up, and may not have the draft capital to do so. 

Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer recently appeared on The Rich Eisen Show, where they talked about teams already preparing for the 2027 draft class. Breer mentions teams like the New York Jets, Cleveland Browns, Arizona Cardinals, and potentially the Miami Dolphins as teams already looking ahead. He also notes that with all these prospects, only so many can go in the first round, meaning the Steelers may not need to trade up at all to get a quarterback. 

"There aren't going to be 12 first-round quarterbacks, but when you have a bigger number that you're working with, there's a better chance that four or five of them are going to hit," Breer explained. 

With the Steelers likely picking somewhere in the 18-24 range in 2027 as they normally do, that could leave some other quarterback prospects that aren't top of the class, but have great potential (players like LaNorris Sellers, Jayden Maiava, and CJ Carr). Sellers had an injury-riddled 2025 season and threw just 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions. South Carolina would finish the season 4-8. As for Carr, 2025 was his first season as Notre Dame's starter. He is a smaller quarterback and played against heavy boxes. 

USC's Maiva may be the most intriguing of this bunch; he brings three seasons of experience. He's got good size at 6'4", 230 pounds, with a lightning-quick release and has great touch on the deep ball. His footwork could use some refining, but that's why Mike McCarthy's here in the Steel City. McCarthy is a known quarterback guru, and one of the 2027 prospects could very well be his next great project. 

Steelers' McCarthy May Be Licking His Chops

With how much talent the 2027 quarterback class contains, it would be a challenge for the Steelers not to land one of them. Even though McCarthy may be really high on Will Howard, he arguably doesn't compare to these prospects. McCarthy will have a huge opportunity to land the Steelers' next franchise quarterback. The team has options for approaching it.Tthey could trade up for Manning, Moore, or Sayin. Or, sit tight at their respective pick and potentially land Sellers, Maiava, and Carr. 

Hopefully, General Manager Omar Khan and McCarthy get the quarterback they believe is best for the team. Whoever they select will be coming into a solid roster with established offensive linemen, and a nice group of wide receivers that the team is likely going to add to. The Steelers' next quarterback will be in good hands. 

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