The Pittsburgh Steelers headed into the 2026 NFL Draft with 12 selections, and after trading up twice, general manager Omar Khan made 10 picks. This draft class, which may include a few essential building blocks in the trenches, instantly added a youth and talent infusion on the roster.
But their draft haul wasn't enough to move the needle in the latest post-draft AFC power rankings.
FanSided contributor Sayre Bedinger recently power-ranked all 16 AFC teams following the 2026 NFL Draft. Unfortunately, the Steelers ranked 11th. Bedinger pegs them as a bottom-six team in the conference and notes that, even if Aaron Rodgers returns, he won't be enough to make this team competitive in 2026.
"Even if Aaron Rodgers is back for the Steelers this year, as expected, it's just hard to see this team being anything more than middle-of-the-road. The Steelers have absolutely made some moves that are additions this offseason, if you get my drift. The quarterback situation is really something that just doesn't feel solved, no matter what the Steelers do...
...Nothing the Steelers did this offseason really moved the needle all that much, and I wouldn't be shocked if they're in for a slight regression."
These AFC power rankings slot the Steelers just behind teams like the Baltimore Ravens (No. 9) and the Indianapolis Colts (No. 10). These are two teams that narrowly missed the playoffs last season, but have quarterbacks who performed well in 2025.
The Pittsburgh Steelers could be destined for a regression in 2026
We saw what this team looked like last year with a 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers at the helm, and it was far from pretty. Though Rodgers did a good job keeping the ball out of harm's way, he had the league's lowest time to throw and seemed afraid of taking hits from the pocket.
A Rodgers return might be best for the Steelers' 2026 hopes, but it still might not be enough to snap Pittsburgh's pitiful playoff drought. Rodgers will turn 43 during the 2026 season, and with a new coaching staff in the post-Mike Tomlin era, we could see some growing pains.
If Rodgers doesn't return, the Steelers are certain to go through some offensive struggles. While many fans are optimistic that one of Will Howard or rookie Drew Allar could develop into a starting-caliber quarterback for Pittsburgh, these two currently combine for zero NFL snaps, and it's safe to assume there will be a massive learning curve if either has to take the field this year.
This isn't to say that Pittsburgh's long-term outlook is in jeopardy. The Steelers valued trench players like Max Iheanachor and Gennings Dunker in the first three rounds of the draft, and the foundation of the roster seems to be in good shape for the future.
Unfortunately, so much hinges on the quarterback situation, and at the moment, the Steelers don't have a QB they can trust. It's not hard to figure out why Pittsburgh currently ranks so low in post-draft AFC power rankings.
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