The Pittsburgh Steelers appear to be in a holding pattern for quarterback Aaron Rodgers. But that doesn’t mean the team isn’t casting a wide net behind center at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine. On Friday, Miami Hurricanes quarterback Carson Beck told reporters that he met with head coach Mike McCarthy and the Steelers.
“During his podium session at the Combine, Miami (Fla.) QB Carson Beck said he had a formal meeting with the Steelers and Mike McCarthy,” wrote Steelers insider Mike McCarthy on X.
A couple years ago, pundits considered Beck a candidate to be the No. 1 overall pick for the 2025 draft. But instead of entering that class, he returned to school and transferred to Miami.
Some pundits, though, still see Beck one of the top signal-callers set to be available in the 2026 NFL Draft. On January 24, ESPN’s Jordan Reid included Beck in his top 5 quarterbacks for the upcoming class.
Reid projected Beck to be a late Day 2 or early Day 3 selection.
Could the Steelers Target QB Carson Beck in 2026 NFL Draft?
As previously mentioned, Steelers general manager Omar Khan seemed to indicate the team is prepared to wait on an Aaron Rodgers decision. With that the case, the only way the Steelers might take a quarterback in the 2026 draft is if Rodgers elects not to return.
The team already has Mason Rudolph and Will Howard under contract. If Rodgers returns too, they don’t really have space for another rookie.
The Steelers could carry four quarterbacks through training camp as the Cleveland Browns did last year. But more than likely, that will end with the Steelers trading one of the signal-callers.
Rudolph would be the most likely trade candidate with Rodgers the incumbent starter and Howard, along with Beck (or another rookie), potential long-term solutions.
A QB room of Rodgers, Howard and Beck would be far from ideal, though, because it leaves the Steelers with a 42-year-old starting quarterback and no experienced backup.
Those details are important when discussing the likelihood of the Steelers acquiring a quarterback in the draft. But clearly, the team is going to do their homework on the class regardless.
Meeting with Beck privately is part of that process.
In addition to Beck, Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson told reporters Friday he met with the Steelers. Simpson has been a popular selection in first-round mock drafts for Pittsburgh this offseason.
Beck’s College Resume at Georgia & Miami
Beck won back-to-back national championships as a backup quarterback to Stetson Bennett with the Georgia Bulldogs in 2021 and 2022. But Beck began his college career as a far better prospect than Bennett.
So the sky appeared to be the limit for Beck when he became QB1 for the Bulldogs in 2023. Beck led the SEC with 3,491 passing yards and also had 24 touchdowns that year.
Entering 2024, Beck was a favorite for the Heisman Trophy and the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft the following spring. But without some of his top targets from the previous season, Beck struggled.
His completion percentage dropped from 72.4% in 2023 to 64.7% in 2024. He also had fewer passing yards.
While Beck had 28 touchdowns in 2024, his interceptions also rose from six to 12.
Rather than enter the draft, Beck returned to college in 2025, transferring to Miami. With the Hurricanes, Beck led his team to where Georgia never went with him as the starter — the national championship.
The Hurricanes, though, lost to the undefeated Indiana Hoosiers.
Beck increased his draft stock with his season at Miami. But there are still concerns about whether he can elevate his game to a level where he’s the reason his NFL offense is elite.
“Beck needs to be drafted by a team where he’s the final piece of the puzzle rather than one that lacks surrounding playmakers; he’s more reliant on good infrastructure than most QBs,” wrote Reid on January 24. “The Miami offensive line was key, as Beck’s 17.1% pressure rate faced was the lowest in the FBS. He got an average of 2.9 seconds to throw the ball.
“Beck was able to play within the confines of the offense while not being forced to make plays outside of the scheme. But can he hold up when conditions are less ideal?”
Former Highly Touted QB Reveals Meeting With Steelers at NFL Combine