There is no doubt that Aaron Rodgers has steadied the ship at quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers this year. And while his play hasn’t been MVP-worthy, he’s done exactly what Arthur Smith has asked of him. That is enough for Pittsburgh fans to be optimistic about this year, but there is no denying that this is just a short-term option until the 2026 NFL Draft.
The Steelers are widely expected to select a quarterback high next year, especially with the draft taking place in Pittsburgh. But what signal-caller makes the most sense for the Steelers, especially if they are going to be drafting in the 20s or maybe even 30s?
The answer might surprise you.
The Pittsburgh Steelers find franchise quarterback in latest 2026 mock draft
By now, you know all of the top names expected to be drafted high next April. But one quarterback who is shooting up the rankings is Ty Simpson from Alabama. He is a fourth-year quarterback, but this is his first season as a starter, and he’s taking advantage of it. Simpson was a bit of an afterthought for most scouts coming into the year, but after six strong starts, he is firmly on the NFL radar.
Through six games, he leads the SEC in touchdown passes (16) and is averaging a whopping 8.9 yards per attempt. He's also completing nearly 71 percent of his passes, and he's not turning the ball over, which is something that Mike Tomlin will surely love. And in a recent mock draft by Jordan Reid of ESPN, he was the selection for the Steelers at No. 30.
Here is why Reid believes this is a perfect fit for Simpson and the Steelers:
"Like (Dante) Moore, Simpson is an inexperienced starter (all six career starts have come this season). It's not certain that Simpson will declare for the 2026 draft, but league evaluators have taken notice of his impressive stretches this season. He has thrown 16 TD passes and just one interception this season."Jordan Reid, ESPN
Simpson was recently ranked as the No. 16 overall prospect in the 2026 draft by Mel Kiper Jr., and that is the highest we’ve seen him ranked this year. Simpson has very modest NFL size (6-2, 208 pounds), but he is a well-rounded quarterback who continues to improve every week.
It would be a pretty big shock if the Steelers didn’t address their quarterback need in Round 1 next year, and right now, Simpson appears to be a potential target. Be sure to keep an eye on him this weekend when the Crimson Tide hosts the Tennessee Volunteers in a huge SEC matchup.