The 2027 quarterback class was supposed to give the Pittsburgh Steelers a buffet of franchise options, but halfway through the college season, that projection looks far shakier than it did as recently as two months ago.
Pittsburgh entered the season with so many potential targets that Still Curtain identified 16 quarterbacks worth monitoring. The group was being compared with the loaded 2024 class that produced six first-round quarterbacks, and some evaluators believed 2027 could eventually challenge that kind of depth.
Arch Manning was supposed to headline it. Instead, Texas' quarterback has 1,295 passing yards, 11 touchdowns, and five interceptions through six games, while the Longhorns have lost consecutive games. ESPN's Pete Thamel reported that Texas is increasing KJ Lacey Jr.'s work with the first-team offense, even though Manning remains the projected starter.
Pittsburgh Steelers suddenly have less certainty in the 2027 QB class
LaNorris Sellers hasn't taken the expected leap either. The South Carolina passer has completed 61.5 percent of his throws for 1,338 yards, 12 touchdowns, and four interceptions through six games. The physical talent remains obvious, but Pittsburgh would be betting heavily on projection if his processing and consistency don't improve.
CJ Carr just had his roughest outing of the season against BYU, completing 27 of 49 attempts for 261 yards without a touchdown. Julian Sayin has been much more productive with 2,007 yards and 19 touchdowns, but an injury to his throwing arm is now expected to sideline him for several weeks.
Dante Moore complicates any claim that the entire class has disappointed. Before his injury, Oregon's quarterback had completed 69.7 percent of his passes for 926 yards, nine touchdowns, and zero interceptions. His problem isn't performance. It's lost evaluation time.
Darian Mensah, Trinidad Chambliss, and Drew Mestemaker have done more to strengthen their cases. Mensah has thrown 18 touchdowns against one interception for undefeated Miami, while Chambliss continues producing for Ole Miss. Mestemaker has surged at Oklahoma State, and Pittsburgh already sent assistant general manager Andy Weidl as part of a scouting contingent to watch him, making him one of Still Curtain's most intriguing Rodgers successors.
Aaron Rodgers isn't a long-term bridge, and Pittsburgh currently lists Will Howard and Drew Allar behind both Rodgers and Mason Rudolph. Keeping four quarterbacks gave the Steelers options, but neither young passer entered this season as an established successor.
The Steelers can still find their quarterback in April. It just might not be as sure-fire as fans once thought.
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