The Pittsburgh Steelers' 2026 offseason will undoubtedly revolve around the quarterback position. Aaron Rodgers, who just turned 42, is likely wrapping up his career after this season. Should he return, Pittsburgh must still begin planning for the future of the position.
With the 2026 NFL Draft set to be held in Pittsburgh and Omar Khan holding a stash of picks that should allow him flexibility to move up the board, many expect the team to take a swing for a new passer next spring.
Nonetheless, other veteran quarterbacks will be looking for new homes, giving the Steelers a long list of potential options in 2026.
Weighing the risk, upside, and realism of each Pittsburgh Steelers QB option in 2026
1. Fernando Mendoza
Fernando Mendoza put together a Heisman Trophy-worthy season as he led the Indiana Hoosiers to the greatest season in program history, going undefeated through the regular season and beating Ohio State for the Big Ten Championship and an undisputed No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoffs.
That’s going to put him well out of reach for Pittsburgh - unless the New York Giants or Tennessee Titans wind up with the No. 1 overall pick. In that scenario, Khan may be able to swing a trade. If the Las Vegas Raiders end up with the pick, then Mendoza will be heading to the desert, in all likelihood.
Mendoza might be the most difficult quarterback on this list to acquire, and that’s a big reason why he tops it. The best-case scenario is often unattainable, but Pittsburgh has some tiny percent chance of making it happen.
2. Dante Moore
Dante Moore is young enough to scare off plenty of Yinzers, but he is in the consensus as one of the top two quarterbacks in the 2026 class. Moore’s season wasn’t quite as electric as Mendoza’s, but he did wrap up the regular season with 24 touchdowns through the air while completing 72.5% of his passes.
Still, it’s becoming clearer to NFL scouts the dangers of pursuing a quarterback with one year of playing experience, especially a redshirt sophomore like Moore. The value of NIL for a player like Moore does make it easier to stick around on campus for an extra season in an effort to be better prepared for the next level.
If Moore declares, though, he’d be the top consolation prize for Pittsburgh if Mendoza isn’t in play. Khan would still have to move up the board to get him, nonetheless.
3. Ty Simpson
Ty Simpson is the most realistic rookie option at quarterback, provided Moore declares. Simpson is projected low enough on expert big boards and mock drafts to be much more attainable for Pittsburgh, though the Steelers will likely still need to move up in some capacity.
Like Moore, Simpson is inexperienced as a starter, and while he was fantastic for much of the season, not all of his starts for Alabama were pretty. But when he was playing at his peak, he often looked like the best quarterback in college football. The entire Crimson Tide roster struggled with consistency in 2025, but that’s not enough to shake some of the concerns that exist in Simpson’s game.
Nonetheless, as a realistic rookie option, he has stronger traits than Kenny Pickett did, so the team would be able to exercise more patience with Simpson in his development.
4. Daniel Jones
It’s surprising to me that Daniel Jones is the first veteran quarterback on this list, too. Before injuries wiped away one of his strongest seasons, Jones was playing at an inspirational level that caught the attention of many quarterback-needy teams.
Ian Rapoport said in late October that the Colts were looking to lock up Jones with a long-term contract after the season. Whether that still holds after his injury is a mystery, especially with a late-season Achilles tear playing a significant factor.
That shines a light on the rest of the field for Pittsburgh, though.
READ MORE: Daniel Jones’ Steelers path opens wider after surprising Colts setback
5. Kirk Cousins
Another offseason needing a quarterback, another brush with the reality that Kirk Cousins might be the Steelers' starting quarterback. Cousins is under contract through next season for Atlanta, but no one would be surprised if the franchise moved on.
Cousins couldn’t save the Falcons’ season after Michael Penix was lost for the season, putting together inconsistent performances along the way.
He’ll be 38 next season, clearly not a long-term answer at the position. Pittsburgh fans, and Cousins himself, may be over the idea of bridge quarterbacks, but there are few options on the table more suited for the role than Cousins.
6. Aaron Rodgers
It’s not ideal, but it’s not the worst possibility imaginable. Aaron Rodgers has been hit or miss for Pittsburgh throughout the 2025 season. It’d likely be much of the same in a second effort.
Still, Rodgers would give Pittsburgh some cushion if they pursue a quarterback in the draft and would still give the team an opportunity to be successful through the 2026 campaign. Of course, resources would need to be poured into the passing game to make the most use of a Rodgers return.
7. Kyler Murray
Maybe someone else would put Murray higher, but not me. I’ve been out on Murray for a while. His athleticism hasn’t been enough to cover up his worst traits as a passer. His losing record as a starter doesn’t scream franchise quarterback either.
It’s not like Murray has performed at a Matthew Stafford level on a bad team. He’s been a component of the team being bad throughout his seven-year career, and his lack of a connection with Marvin Harrison Jr. speaks volumes to that point.
All that said, he’s not the worst possible option by a long shot. The status quo of barely stitching together a winning season wouldn’t change for Pittsburgh with him under center, though.
READ MORE: Steelers' chances at a Kyler Murray trade just became more real than ever before
8. Some other rookie quarterback
The 2026 rookie quarterback class isn’t settled, and naturally, through the process, some players will rise on the draft board while others fall. This spot is reserved for the LaNorris Sellers, Garrett Nussmeier, and Drew Allar’s of the class: guys who had huge stock before the 2025 season began but have since cooled considerably.
Pittsburgh likely wouldn’t be looking at those quarterbacks and others of similar ilk as day-one starters, but should the events play out with one such quarterback on the roster with the intent to be the quarterback of the future, then at least some amount of optimism for the franchise will exist.
9. Mason Rudolph
For as long as he’s an option, there will be Steelers fans in every corner of the internet suggesting Mason Rudolph deserves a shot as Pittsburgh’s full-time starter. To be fair to Rudolph and his supporters, every chance he’s gotten as a starter came in the worst type of circumstances. He wasn’t ready to be a full-time starter in 2019, and last year with the Titans doesn’t need much explaining.
Still, there’s a lot of caution behind turning the reins over to Rudolph in 2026. The Steelers have yet to show they have faith in him beyond anything more than a backup role, so there shouldn’t be much anticipation that they’d be willing to head into 2026 with him as the starter.
10. Anthony Richardson
Since he was benched in favor of Daniel Jones, former third-overall pick Anthony Richardson has been circled as a possible option for Pittsburgh in 2026. Richardson’s development has been hampered by injuries, as well as the Colts’ insistence on rushing him out as their starter despite his limited experience at Florida.
There would surely be some excitement in Richardson coming to Pittsburgh. His physical tools are wildly impressive. But his toughness and consistency have been called into question in his short NFL career, and the Steelers can’t overlook that.
If ever there were a quintessential ‘boom or bust’ option for Pittsburgh, it’s tough to top Richardson.
11. Will Howard
Will Howard was a sixth-round pick. Some Steelers fans (who likely double as Ohio State Buckeyes, you know who you are) are holding out serious hope that he can develop into a starter and become Ohio State’s version of Tom Brady.
It’s not impossible, if not highly improbable. Howard will likely have a shot to battle for the backup job next season, which isn’t a bad consolation prize, all things considered. However, if he were to be the starter for a length of time next season, even his biggest supporters should anticipate growing pains.