The Pittsburgh Steelers’ quarterback search is on, and although head coach Mike Tomlin’s priority is to remain focused on the 2025 regular season and a Week 3 matchup with the New England Patriots, general manager Omar Khan’s scouting staff has already begun looking for the next franchise QB.
For the second time this season, the Steelers scouted Miami Hurricanes quarterback prospect Carson Beck in person on Saturday,” Steelers Now beat reporter Alan Saunders relayed on the morning of September 21.
In a follow-up post, Saunders also noted that “the Steelers had a scout at Indiana last night to see an impressive performance from Hoosiers QB Fernando Mendoza.” Who is projected to be another top-ranked quarterback prospect in 2026.
In all likelihood, Pittsburgh will scout most of the top quarterback prospects often throughout the 2025 campaign, so this doesn’t necessarily mean Beck and Mendoza are leading the search. But it does mean the Steelers are at least looking into the possibility of drafting both youngsters.
With Aaron Rodgers expected to retire after the 2025 season, and considering how many draft picks the Steelers have accumulated in 2026, the expectation is that they will spend premium draft capital on another QB. Who that quarterback will be is very much up for debate.
More on Carson Beck & Fernando Mendoza as Steelers Scout Both Quarterbacks
Saunders provided more information on both Beck and Mendoza within an accompanying article.
“Both quarterbacks are looking to claim first-round draft status in 2026 after transferring to new schools this past offseason,” the beat reporter wrote. Mendoza came to Indiana from Cal, where the Steelers scouted him last year during the Bears‘ game at Pitt. This is the first time they’ve seen him with the Hoosiers, where he’s established himself as the No. 15 overall player on the NFL Mock Draft Database consensus big board.
Beck was considered a potential option in the 2025 NFL Draft, but after a so-so season at Georgia, elected to hit the transfer portal and head to Miami, where the Hurricanes turned transfer Cam Ward into the first overall pick last year,” Saunders reminded. This is the second time the Steelers have scouted Beck this season.
Per NFL Draft Buzz, “Mendoza’s ceiling hinges on proving he can maintain his accuracy and decision-making when operating behind less-than-ideal protection, something every NFL quarterback must navigate. His natural feel for finding throwing lanes and delivering strikes to covered receivers gives him a foundation to build upon, but his tendency to hold the ball and absorb contact rather than escape the pocket could become problematic against faster, more athletic defenders.”
For Beck, the 2025 campaign could determine if his draft stock rises back into the top 10 or continues to plummet into the mid and late rounds of the rookie selection process.
2026 QB Class Off to a Slow Start
Outside of Mendoza, it’s been tough sledding for the majority of the supposed top quarterback prospects of the 2026 class.
Obviously, there is still a lot of time for that to change. But the early weeks of 2025 are a reminder that there are never any guarantees in the draft — especially when it comes to the QB position.
The Steelers can target the 2026 quarterback class all they want, but any player they draft shouldn’t necessarily be handed the job. Mason Rudolph is still under contract for the 2026 season, as is 2025 draft pick Will Howard, so Pittsburgh does have a couple of options should things go awry.
Steelers Connected to 2 Quarterbacks Ahead of Week 3