Insider Gives Update on Steelers Draft Plans at QB

The Pittsburgh Steelers could look to select a quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Pittsburgh has yet to re-sign Aaron Rodgers at quarterback, although all signs point to him returning. Even if Rodgers does return, it likely will be his final season, so Pittsburgh needs to find its long-term answer at quarterback.

Although the Steelers have Will Howard on the roster, Pittsburgh is expected to look to draft a quarterback in the later rounds. And, after hosting Carson Beck and Drew Allar for a visit, the team is expected to host LSU Tigers quarterback Garrett Nussemeier, according to insider Mike DeFabo of The Athletic.

“Well, I’ll tell you first who I don’t think it will be: Ty Simpson,” DeFabo wrote. “While he’s a coach’s son who knows the game, interviewed well and has some upside. I think his limited experience (15 college starts) will weigh heavily into the Steelers’ evaluation. I would disregard the Steelers portion of any mock draft that has Pittsburgh picking him in the first round.

“On Tuesday, the Steelers hosted Miami’s Carson Beck for a pre-draft visit. They also met with Drew Allar, Simpson and Beck at the combine. It wouldn’t surprise me if they host Garrett Nussmeier, too. If they draft someone, I anticipate it will be in a middle round. I mentioned Beck in my “What I’m Hearing at the Combine” story. He’s starting to get some buzz elsewhere in the media and has as good of a shot as any of the other QBs, even though the fan base doesn’t seem to be sold on him yet.”

Beck’s name has started to gain more traction, but DeFabo believes the Steelers are expected to be interested in Allar and Nussmeier as well.

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Steelers Connected to Carson Beck

Carson Beck had an up-and-down college football season. After having success at Georgia, he transferred to Miami. There, he led the Hurricanes to the national championship game.

Although Miami lost, Beck showed flashes of being an NFL quarterback, and the Steelers are expected to show a ton of interest in him.

“It’s not Ty Simpson at 21. I can tell you that for a fact,” Todd McShay said, via Steelers Depot’s Troy Montgomery. I have heard them linked with Carson Beck, so that’s just something to keep an eye on.”

Pittsburgh hosted Beck on a top-30 visit, and the former Hurricanes quarterback projects to be a backup.

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Latest on Aaron Rodgers

Pittsburgh has yet to re-sign Rodgers, although the future Hall of Famer hinted at retirement; he is expected to return.

However, The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Ray Fittipaldo said that the Steelers still aren’t 100% sure Rodgers will be back.

“They truly don’t know what Aaron Rodgers is gonna do,” Fittipaldo said, via Steelers Depot’s Ross McCorkle. “They think he’s coming back; they hope he’s coming back. If Aaron Rodgers doesn’t come back, the Steelers would never say it out loud, but that’s their chance to reset, right?

“They could actually go into the 2026 season, I’m not saying Will Howard would be the Day 1 starter, but eventually, at some point in ’26, they would find out about him.”

Rodgers led the Steelers to an AFC North title last season. But he’s yet to sign a contract for the 2026 season.

Cole Shelton Cole Shelton covers the NHL, MLB and Cleveland Browns for Heavy.com. He has covered pro and college sports since 2016, including bylines at BJ Penn, USA Today, SB Nation, Rotowire, Canadian Baseball Network and more. More about Cole Shelton