At this point, the Pittsburgh Steelers can flip the entire roster around, and the quarterback situation would still feel never-ending. That’s what it has become: a chaotic mess that needs addressing. The idea of drafting a QB doesn’t sound too outrageous.
Steelers Should Target Drew Allar or a Day 3 Quarterback
During the latest episode of PFSN’s Football Debate Club, this was the question: “Other than the Las Vegas Raiders, which team needs a quarterback the most?”
Ian Cummings said, “I feel like it’s got to be the Steelers. Now, I won’t put having to draft a QB in this class on anyone because this class isn’t really that good past the top guy.
“But the Steelers have five picks in the top 100. They have plenty of capital in the day three range too. And Aaron Rodgers provided quality play for them, but they haven’t had a long-term franchise QB since Ben Roethlisberger.
“Right now, they’re heading into the year with Will Howard and Mason Rudolph. I think taking a swing on a day three QB like Joe Fagnano or Jack Strand or Drew Allar is the best thing they can do. Try and invest in some talent that you can develop.”
It’s not a far-fetched statement by any logic. Given the situation at hand, a pass catcher on Day 3 is not a bad shout. Like Cummings said, “Try and invest in some talent that you can develop.”
Joe Fagnano was the first name he mentioned. Coming out of the UConn Huskies (2023-2025), Fagnano is a 6-foot-3, 226-pound quarterback who has a knack for quick throws. He also played for Maine (2019-2022).
In the 2025 season, he started 12 games for the Huskies, throwing for 3,448 yards, 28 touchdowns, and only 1 interception. With Fagnano, numbers are never the problem. He had a 48:6 TD-to-INT ratio for the Huskies in 2025. But one major issue is his struggles with hitting deep balls.
Then comes Jack Strand. PFSN’s player profile grades him 78.36 and labels him as a notable sleeper in the 2026 NFL Draft.
At 6-foot-5, 240 pounds, Strand quietly has many of the diagnostic qualities sought after in an NFL backup or developmental starter. He’s a plus athlete at his size, with a live arm and elite arm elasticity, arm angle flexibility, and off-platform freedom. He has somewhat of a Big Ben build, back when he was called “big-bodied” in 2004.
Lastly, Cummings pointed to Allar. Allar might be the strongest option of the three. His 2025 season at Penn State was marked by high expectations, potential Heisman consideration, and a promising start before a midseason ankle injury hampered his final collegiate campaign.
Though viewed by some as a frustrating prospect due to inconsistent big-game performance, his 6-foot-5 frame and arm strength keep him on the radar for the 2026 NFL Draft.
Across his 2025 regular-season games, Allar recorded 1,100 passing yards, 8 passing touchdowns, and 172 rushing yards, along with 1 rushing touchdown until a fractured ankle sustained midway through the year cut his time short.
GM Omar Khan Acknowledges the Steelers’ Need for a Quarterback
Cummings is not in over his head to float such an idea. The problem is the draft class. The once-robust quarterback class instead thinned out.
Some of the most intriguing candidates (Arch Manning, Trinidad Chambliss, Dante Moore, and LaNorris Sellers) opted to return to college for at least one more season, leaving the 2026 class with just one bona fide first-rounder in Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza and a potential first-round pick in Alabama’s Ty Simpson.
They are both widely expected to be off the board before the Steelers’ 21st overall pick. That reality shifts the focus to Day 3 options, especially with Aaron Rodgers, whose 2025 performance ranged from serviceable to vintage, seemingly set to return for another season at 42.
So, the long-term question remains unanswered. PFSN’s NFL QB Impact Metrics ranked Rodgers 29th last season with an impact score of 71.4 and a C- grade.
“We all agree that we’re looking for that next franchise guy,” Steelers general manager Omar Khan said in February at the NFL Combine. “We’re not there yet, and we may have the guy on the roster, we don’t know, in Will, and we’re excited to work with Will. We all know that has to be addressed, and we’re all looking for the same thing, we’re just not there yet.”
BE AN NFL GM: PFSN’s Ultimate GM Simulator
And even if Pittsburgh leans away from a quarterback in Round 1, the team is not shying away from reality. Based on pre-draft meetings and offseason comments from new coach Mike McCarthy and Khan, the Steelers are still expected to take a quarterback at some point during the three-day draft, regardless of Rodgers’ status or Howard’s trajectory.
