Steelers Now Expected To Make An Aggressive Move That Will Shake Up The 2026 NFL Draft Board

Pittsburgh Steelers General Manager Omar Khan has been working hard to stockpile draft picks. The goal was obvious, as Pittsburgh has been in quarterback trouble ever since Ben Roethlisberger retired. For several seasons, the Steelers have been stuck in quarterback purgatory, and that is why those picks were accumulated.

Khan knew the 2025 quarterback class was considered weak, and at the time, the 2026 class was considered generational. As the 2025 college football season played out, several big-name quarterback prospects saw their draft stock drop. Others rose, but not to the point where the Steelers seriously feel they can find their franchise quarterback in this draft. Even with 12 picks in their arsenal, Steelers fans feel like drafting a quarterback in this draft, not named Fernando Mendoza, would be a mistake. The general consensus is that Mendoza is the only surefire prospect in this QB class, and he will most certainly be well off the board by the time Mike McCarthy and Khan are on the clock at 21.

This has left pundits and Steelers fans scrambling to come up with ideas about what they may do in the 2026 NFL Draft. This draft is going to be hosted by the Steel City of Pittsburgh, making it even more of an exciting event for Steeler Nation. Former Steelers quarterback Charlie Batch was asked by former Steelers offensive lineman Trai Essex if he believes Pittsburgh will use all 12 picks in this class on drafting 12 rookies on the BIGPLAY Pittsburgh YouTube Channel. Batch does not see a world in which that happens.

"I just don’t believe that the Steelers will have and use 12 picks for these rookies coming in. I just don’t believe that," Batch said. "So I think at some point, and this is why over the last year or so they were stockpiling those picks, to be in anticipation of being in position to move up."

That mindset has been building within the organization for quite some time. Pittsburgh has clearly prioritized flexibility over volume in recent drafts. With so many picks in hand, the expectation around the league is that the Steelers will not simply stand pat. 

Instead, they are positioning themselves to be aggressive when the right opportunity presents itself. Whether that comes early or mid-draft will depend on how the board falls. However, Batch is confident that the Steelers will be finding a way to use those picks to parlay a trade into an impact player.

"Now, it may not necessarily be for a tackle or whatever position we’re talking about," Batch said. "It was supposed to be for a quarterback. Obviously, that quarterback probably won’t be in this particular draft, but I do expect them to [trade] up, lose some of those picks, and draft somebody impactful. So, yes."

Obviously, it was supposed to be for a quarterback when Khan was stockpiling these picks. While the QB class has not exactly inspired much confidence, the Steelers are doing their due diligence on all quarterback prospects, including Ty Simpson.

Steelers Are Set Up To Be The Most Fascinating Team Of 2026

Now the Steelers find themselves waiting to find out if Aaron Rodgers is going to be their quarterback for the 2026 season. If he does come, then the first year of the McCarthy tenure would kick off in storybook fashion. If Rodgers does not come, then things will get very interesting, as Pittsburgh appears confident in rolling the dice with a quarterback room of Mason Rudolph and Will Howard, which also does not inspire much confidence around the league.

Either way, the Steelers are clearly preparing for every possible scenario. With a stockpile of draft capital and uncertainty at the most important position in football, Pittsburgh is positioned to be one of the most fascinating teams to watch heading into the 2026 NFL season and draft.

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