The Pittsburgh Steelers are in complete upheaval right now. For the first time in years, theyare looking for a new head coach, meaning this roster will face a lot of uncertainty once again.
For the quarterback position, it seems like once again we will see a new player in the starting role.
Aaron Rodgers did a good job in his lone season in Pittsburgh. He certainly exceeded expectations, but at his age, he isn’t the future of this team. He also showed what his ceiling is, and I don’t see him playing any better in 2026.
With a new regime coming in, it feels like a new quarterback is a certainty. Unfortunately, this crop of options is lacking. There will be some veteran castoffs in the mix, but we should be cautious about taking someone else’s trash
Ranking the six quarterback options the Pittsburgh Steelers can turn to next season
6. Justin Fields, New York Jets
Starting this list with a familiar face, Justin Fields doesn’t feel like he is long for New York. The Jets inked him to a two-year deal in hopes that he would be their quarterback of the future. He flashed that ability in his lone year in Pittsburgh.
The Jets didn’t find the same success with Fields. Their offense went into a shell, and while he was still effective on the ground, the passing game died with him in charge.
The Steelers won’t have the same coaching staff that liked Fields in the first place, but they can get him for cheap and see if he can recapture some of that magic he had in 2024. He is far from the best option, but one that is squarely on the table.
5. Trey Lance, LA Chargers
Like Fields, Trey Lance would be a rebound candidate. Unlike Fields, he hasn’t had the chance to rebound after being a bust of a first-round pick. He was quickly replaced in San Francisco and found no opportunities in Dallas or Los Angeles.
That doesn’t take away from his potential as a player. A rare combination of athleticism and raw skills, he looked like a potential top quarterback if he could put everything together. He never got the time to do it, and his opportunities have been middling so far.
Taking Lance doesn’t mean he will instantly rebound. Instead, you present him with one final shot to prove his draft value. We have seen other highly touted players rebound in the right situation.
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More than likely, a new coach is turning to a Fields or a Lance, who is allowing an open competition between them and Will Howard, knowing that it likely won’t work out. If you get the redemption story, great. If not, you can turn to the draft to land your guy.
4. Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals
If Mike Tomlin were still around, this would have felt like more of a lock. Kyler Murray popped onto the scene early in his career with impressive plays and feats on the ground. However, recent history has been unkind to the former top pick.
With the Cardinals starting a new regime, Murray could be moved out. Trade seems most likely, but I wouldn’t even rule out cutting him if Arizona were that desperate to get rid of him.
If he were cut, a new coach for the Steelers could take a shot, given the relatively low risk. That said, the fact that a trade may be needed keeps him further down this list.
3. Ty Simpson, Alabama Crimson Tide
The only rookie on this list, and for good reason. Despite a load of speculation about the Steelers being hot on the quarterback scouting train, the class has dried up. If a rookie lands in Pittsburgh as the starter, it feels like it is Ty Simpson.
He was electric early on this season, but he faltered down the stretch. He has everything you could want in a potential starter, but only a year of production and the bad stretch of play at the end make you pause.
I think Simpson’s best chance at success is if he is given a year or two to sit behind someone established. Rushing him into a starting gig when he is so inexperienced is a mistake. That wouldn’t be Pittsburgh right now, so I ultimately think the plan is to go elsewhere.
2. Mac Jones, San Francisco 49ers
If this were a year ago, I would be slamming Mac Jones as my preferred quarterback for the year. While I still question his ceiling, he can make the routine plays and manage the game with a good defense and effective running game.
Flash forward a year, and we saw just that (and a little bit more) while serving as the backup for the 49ers. Kyle Shanahan is a known quarterback whisperer, but Jones looked like the effective player the Patriots had hoped he would be out of Alabama.
Still under contract, the Steelers would both have to trade for Jones and then, likely, extend him. There is a lot more risk there than I would personally stomach.
That said, in terms of options for the year, he has to be up there. Assuming a defensive-minded coach takes the reins, he will want a safe and effective quarterback to lead the offense. Jones can be just that.
1. Malik Willis, Green Bay Packers
It looks like Malik Willis could be a true gem this offseason, as there are a slew of quarterback-needy teams and not a lot of great options. He is set up as the top free agent option by a wide margin.
While the old regime had interest in Willis before the draft, the new regime could also turn to him as a starter for next season. Willis has looked great when given the opportunity with the Packers. He is still young enough to be ascending as a player, so the future could be even brighter.
Of course, this could all be just a flash in the pan, and he could come crashing back to earth. If that ends up being the case, then you likely set yourself up for a top quarterback in 2027. It seems far too logical for this team to pursue Willis this offseason.