The Pittsburgh Steelers could draft a quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft, and could even do so in the first round.
Pittsburgh will have options at quarterback, and the Steelers could look to draft Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Ty Simpson. Simpson is expected to be a late first-round pick, which falls right into the Steelers’ range at 21st overall.
However, NFL analyst Adam Schein believes Pittsburgh shouldn’t draft Simpson, as he believes Will Howard is a better quarterback.
“Under no circumstance should the Pittsburgh Steelers draft a quarterback in the first round,” Schein said Tuesday on the New York Post Sports’ YouTube channel (via Steelers Depot). “Ty Simpson is not the guy… I think the Pittsburgh Steelers are gonna be really good this year… I feel pretty confident in saying this, Rodgers will be back…
“If you need help on the offensive line, if you need help on defense, if you can even draft another wide receiver at some point in the first three rounds, you don’t mess around when it comes to the quarterback position. I’m not necessarily a huge believer when it comes to Will Howard as an NFL starting quarterback… I do think he can potentially start and play [in the] right system. I do think…Will Howard is better than Ty Simpson.”
Schein claiming Howard is better than Simpson is a unique take, but many Steelers fans don’t feel the need to draft the Alabama quarterback. However, if one analyst believes Howard is better than Simpson, it could very well hinder his draft stock and could see him fall.
Steelers Reportedly ‘Like’ Ty Simpson
Pittsburgh could go in a couple of different directions at 21st overall, but quarterback isn’t off the board.
CBS Sports draft analyst Ryan Wilson reported that the Steelers do like Simpson a lot, and could very well be the pick at 21, or could very well trade back in the first round to select him.
“I’ve heard they do like Ty Simpson,” Wilson said on 93.7 The Fan. “I would not be surprised if they package some of those Day 2 picks to get back up into the first round to get Ty (Simpson) at the bottom of round one if he’s still there.”
Pittsburgh has one second-round pick and three third-round picks, which could lead to the Steelers packaging those to re-enter the first round to select Simpson.
Simpson threw for 3,567 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions last season with the Crimson Tide.
Pittsburgh Continue to Wait for Aaron Rodgers
The Steelers have a question mark at quarterback as Aaron Rodgers has yet to re-sign.
Pittsburgh had said they hoped Rodgers’ decision wouldn’t take as long as it did last year. Yet, with the NFL Draft just a week away, the future Hall of Famer still hasn’t made a decision.
However, Pittsburgh isn’t frustrated about no decision yet, according to Adam Schefter.
“They’re not frustrated,” Schefter said via The Pat McAfee Show. “I just think people thought there would be an answer. I remember asking various people and they’re like, ‘We should have an answer within 30 days.’ And then 30 days came and went. … ‘We should have an answer mid-March.’ It’s mid-March, we don’t have an answer. Now we have Art Rooney saying, ‘We should have an answer before the draft.’”
Rodgers helped the Steelers win the AFC North last season.
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