The Pittsburgh Steelers are placing all their bets on one year with Aaron Rodgers at the helm. Nearly a decade since their last playoff win, head coach Mike Tomlin has to be entering desperate territory to change that statistic. As a result, the Steelers have been as aggressive as one can recall in recent memory. Beyond Rodgers, they’ve been hard at work rebuilding the roster around him as well.
Through multiple trades, they’ve surrounded him with potent weapons at every level on both sides of the football. However, there is an increasingly strong chance that their push is a one-year try only. The four-time MVP has flirted with the idea of retirement already and confirmed that the 2025 season was going to be his final year in the league. As a result, one analyst believes Pittsburgh needs to target its quarterback of the future in the 2026 NFL Draft.
What’s Next for the Pittsburgh Steelers After Aaron Rodgers?
Since Ben Roethlisberger, the Steelers haven’t had a stable quarterback manning their offense. That has reflected directly in the playoffs, even if Tomlin’s coaching brilliance continues to get them to the postseason with regularity.
However, for such a historic franchise, playoff wins are a necessity to appease the fan base. As a result, the team went all-in on bringing Rodgers into the fold. Soon after, they had a litany of proven veterans surrounding him, including DK Metcalf, Jonnu Smith, and Jalen Ramsey.
But, during his turn on the “Back Together Weekend” special on the NFL Network, the four-time MVP made it clear that he was back for one more season out of his love for the game. As a result, the latest mock draft from PFSN is linking Pittsburgh with Garrett Nussmeier out of LSU.
The successor to Jayden Daniels for the Tigers, Nussmeier finally got his first crack at the starting quarterback job in 2024 and was immediately productive. Putting up 4,052 yards and 29 touchdowns, the talent was almost immediately recognizable.
2:46 of Garrett Nussmeier’s off platform/on the move throws (+ scrambles!) from the 2024 season. pic.twitter.com/gJEMODQ9Cv
— Matthew Brune (@MatthewBrune_) May 21, 2025
Brentley Weissman has high expectations from Nussmeier, owing to his pedigree and the talent he’s displayed so far. “LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier likely would have been a first-round pick had he entered the 2025 NFL Draft. A coach’s son, Nussmeier plays the game with excellent instincts, accuracy, and decision-making skills.”
There isn’t a guarantee that Rodgers certainly retires after the 2025 campaign. He’s changed his tune about calling it quits before and it wouldn’t be a shock if he does it again. But even if remains on the roster for longer, for the long-term future of the franchise, drafting a quarterback is the ideal way forward.
