The Pittsburgh Steelers still have yet to figure out who will be their starting quarterback for the 2026 season, which may be why mock drafts continue to link them to a signal-caller in the first round of next year’s draft.
For the second straight season, Pittsburgh invested in the position. The team selected Will Howard in the sixth round last year and Drew Allar in the third round this year. Assuming the team doesn’t play the waiting game with Aaron Rodgers for a third consecutive offseason, they may have no choice but to find their next franchise quarterback sooner rather than later.
With the relationship between the Steelers and Rodgers reportedly on shaky ground, the organization could soon be ready to move on. If that happens, there’s a real chance the franchise enters unfamiliar territory. Not only could the 19-year no-losing-season streak built under Mike Tomlin come to an end, but Pittsburgh could also find itself picking much higher in the draft than usual.
Steelers’ Quarterback Situation Could Lead To High 2027 Draft Pick
Neither Howard nor Allar has any NFL experience. Allar will be a rookie, while Howard suffered a training camp injury last year that ended his season before it even reached the preseason.
That leaves new head coach Mike McCarthy in a tough spot if Rodgers decides to retire or move on. It would likely mean relying on two inexperienced quarterbacks, which could come with growing pains—and potentially a difficult season.
But that kind of season could also come with a silver lining.
A step back in 2026 could put the Steelers in position to land a top-10 pick in what’s shaping up to be a quarterback-heavy 2027 draft class.
CBS Sports’ Ryan Wilson has Pittsburgh picking No. 8 overall in his early projection, selecting Darian Mensah.
“Mensah is a sturdy, big-armed passer who has both touch and accuracy on deep throws, consistently layers the ball on second-level throws, can rip intermediate and deep throws out of structure and with accuracy, but he can also get himself into trouble when he tries to extend plays instead of taking what the defense gives him,” Wilson wrote. “He has a chance to be the latest Miami QB transfer to be in the Round 1 conversation, following Cam Ward and Carson Beck.”
Darian Mensah In Line For Big Season With Miami Hurricanes
Since making his transfer to Miami Hurricanes, Mensah’s draft stock has been trending upward. Miami has built a reputation in recent years for developing quarterback talent, producing the No. 1 overall pick in Cam Ward and helping rebuild Carson Beck’s stock into a Day 2 selection in the third round.
Mensah was one of the top transfers in the 2025 class, originally moving from Tulane Green Wave to Duke Blue Devils, where he put together a career-season. He threw for 3,973 yards, 34 touchdowns and just six interceptions.
Now at Miami, a projected top-10 team coming off a national championship appearance, Mensah will be under a much brighter spotlight. With a loaded group of offensive playmakers around him, the opportunity is there for him to solidify his status as one of the top quarterbacks in the 2027 class.
That brings the focus back to Pittsburgh.
If the Steelers struggle enough to land a high pick, Mensah could be firmly in play. But projecting that far out comes with plenty of uncertainty. Both Pittsburgh’s trajectory and Mensah’s development could shift significantly between now and draft night.
Steelers Predicted to Land Top-10 Pick for 56-TD Franchise QB