The Aaron Rodgers signing is now official, and that sets in motion the plan for the Steelers to draft a quarterback early during the 2026 NFL Draft. Rodgers signed a one-year deal and will turn 42 in December, and it goes without saying that he isn’t the long-term plan. However, Pittsburgh wants to still compete this season, and that could significantly hinder the caliber of quarterback they are able to draft next year.
Unless Pittsburgh finishes near the bottom of the AFC, they won’t be drafting inside the top-five, and even top-10 seems like a stretch. And while the possibility always exists that they could trade up, that’s going to be extremely pricey even with their additional draft picks.
That’s why it’s not a bad idea to try to identify the quarterbacks that could be had in the middle of Round 1. This can be a tough task in June, but there is a quarterback worth paying attention to this upcoming season as a possible target for Pittsburgh.
In a recent article by Jordan Reid of ESPN, he wrote about the top quarterback prospects going into the upcoming college football season. That list included a bunch of names you are likely familiar with, including Drew Allar (Penn State), Carson Beck (Miami), and Arch Manning (Texas). But one name you might not have heard of before is John Mateer from Oklahoma.
Here is a snippet from that article on why Reid believes Mateer could be a rising star at the quarterback position:
"[John Mateer] is an aggressive playmaker who has all sorts of funky releases, allowing him to reposition his body and still get the ball out effectively. He has easy arm strength and isn't hesitant to make far-hash throws. Mateer is a fierce competitor and an extremely effective runner on scrambles and designed QB runs, rushing for 826 yards and 15 touchdowns last season. He represents a clear upgrade for an Oklahoma offense that struggled mightily in 2024."Jordan Reid, ESPN
Pittsburgh Steelers fans should keep their eye on John Mateer during the 2025 college football season
It’s worth mentioning that the last Washington State quarterback who transferred to a bigger school (Cam Ward) ended up becoming the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. So it shouldn’t be a shock to anyone if Mateer has a big rise during the upcoming college football season and ends up becoming a future first-round pick. Mateer threw for 3,139 yards and 29 touchdowns in 12 games last year and was one of the most productive quarterbacks in college football.
Oklahoma plays a very tough schedule during the 2025 season and will see Mateer against several of the top defenses in the country. That is excellent news for his draft stock, and with another strong season, he’s got the tools to be a first-round pick in April. Oklahoma has a long track record of putting quarterbacks into the NFL, and Mateer’s production profile is highly impressive, averaging 9.3 yards per attempt for his career.
Mateer is a very productive runner, as Reid mentioned in the article. That is something Pittsburgh will likely make a priority, especially if Rodgers struggles due to his limited athleticism. If he can post those same numbers in the SEC this season, expect Mateer to be a potential first-round pick and a target for the Steelers in Round 1.