The Pittsburgh Steelers built their reputation on sustaining success through virtually every era of the NFL. That consistency hasn’t translated to championships in recent years, forcing the front office to scramble for answers.
They’ve tried a multitude of combinations, leaning on Aaron Rodgers last season as their latest gamble. Now, after replacing Mike Tomlin with head coach Mike McCarthy, one analyst believes the franchise needs to think long-term and draft quarterback Ty Simpson.
Steelers Need a Fresh Start With Ty Simpson
The Steelers won the vaunted AFC North and made the playoffs with Rodgers, even with the defense taking a step back. Still, a 30-6 blowout loss to the Houston Texans in the wild-card round left them in an all-too-familiar spot.
Nearly a decade removed from their last playoff win, Pittsburgh needs a fundamental shift. Replacing Tomlin with McCarthy gives the offense a chance to evolve, but the roster lacks a long-term plan under center.
The front office has coasted on veteran free agents to stay afloat after the Kenny Pickett selection backfired. With McCarthy now running the show, ESPN analyst Marcus Spears wants the organization to go back to the drawing board.
Speaking on “NFL Live,” Spears broke down his preferred offseason path for Pittsburgh. “There’s a lot of glaring issues in Pittsburgh, but the one glaring issue that you cannot win without in this league, is high-level quarterback play.”
“There’s a lot of glaring issues in Pittsburgh, but the one glaring issue that you cannot win without in this league, is high-level quarterback play.”@mspears96 thinks the Steelers should draft Ty Simpson regardless if Aaron Rodgers is there 👀 pic.twitter.com/AOYe18XK3y
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) April 7, 2026
He laid into the Steelers for accepting mediocrity and relying on a revolving door of aging quarterbacks. Spears stressed that competent or average play simply won’t cut it if Pittsburgh wants to contend for a Super Bowl.
Spears wants them to take a swing in the 2026 NFL Draft on Simpson, who just capped a phenomenal final year at Alabama. He argued the front office must make this move regardless of Rodgers’ status for the upcoming season.
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Simpson threw for 3,567 yards and completed 64.5% of his passes for the Crimson Tide, posting 28 touchdowns against just five interceptions. Ranked No. 25 on PFSN’s CFB QB Impact list, evaluators view him as one of the elite quarterback prospects in this class.
Drafting Simpson offers a clear transition plan for a franchise stuck in neutral. The Steelers’ front office historically plays it safe under center, but bringing in McCarthy signals a willingness to change the status quo.
