The Pittsburgh Steelers are going to have to identify a replacement for veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers over the offseason.
Rodgers is no longer under contract with the Steelers, and even if he were to return for one more season, the Steelers would still need to figure out a long-term solution at the position. Perhaps that solution will come in the first round of the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft.
Steelers predicted to draft Alabama QB Ty Simpson
Matt Johnson of Sportsnaut predicts that the Steelers will select Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson in the first round of the draft to be their QB of the future.
“Ty Simpson had plenty of ups and downs in his first year as a starter, but the traits are good enough to make him a first-round pick in the 2026 NFL draft,” Johnson wrote. “He is a better quarterback prospect than Kenny Pickett was. Perhaps Aaron Rodgers even returns for one more year, serving as a mentor for Simpson. It would give the Steelers short-term stability while the fan base finally has some optimism for the future at QB.”
Steelers owner Art Rooney II recently cast doubt on Rodgers returning to Pittsburgh following Mike Tomlin’s departure.
"Look, Aaron came here to play for Mike,” Rooney said in a press conference this week. “So I think it would most likely affect his decision.”
Rooney also acknowledged the need for the Steelers to figure out a plan at the QB position moving forward.
"I'm sure the quarterback position will be an important part of this discussion with the [head coach] candidates,” Rooney said. “We'll have to develop a plan for going forward."
The Steelers have been searching for a long-term answer at the QB position since Ben Roethlisberger retired after the 2021 season. Perhaps this will be the offseason that they finally find one.
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