The 2026 NFL Draft is shaping up to be one of the more unpredictable quarterback classes in recent memory. At the top, there’s very little consensus beyond a small group of names, and even that feels shaky compared to previous years.
For teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers, that uncertainty could actually work in their favor. The franchise isn’t locked into forcing a pick early, opening the door to finding value later in the draft. And based on how this class is viewed around the league, that might be the smarter play.
Why Mel Kiper Jr. Sees Day 2 Quarterback Value for Pittsburgh and New York
“There might not be many Day 1 quarterbacks this week — and there might be only one — but there are a few guys to watch for teams like the Steelers and Jets on Day 2 and into the early parts of Day 3,” Mel Kiper Jr. wrote in his draft-day notebook for ESPN.
That aligns with what many evaluators have been saying for months. This isn’t a class where teams feel great about reaching early unless they’re completely sold on a prospect.
The group’s depth feels more appealing than its top-end talent. For the Steelers and Jets, both of whom have questions at quarterback but also other roster needs, waiting could be the best path.
Pittsburgh, in particular, has been tied to several quarterback scenarios. Talk of Aaron Rodgers returning to the team has been rampant since after the Super Bowl, but there hasn’t been a peep from his camp. Until then, uncertainty remains surrounding their long-term plan under center. Adding competition around second-year quarterback Will Howard without sacrificing premium draft capital will be the Steelers’ likely path.
The Jets are in a similar spot. Even with a short-term answer in Geno Smith, the need for a developmental option remains.
How Carson Beck and Drew Allar Fit the Steelers and Jets
“Keep an eye on Miami’s Carson Beck and Penn State’s Drew Allar, who have the physical traits that Pittsburgh and New York want under center. They are big, strong passers with solid arm strength. I could see those franchises looking at Beck and Allar in the third or fourth round.”
That assessment highlights why both players are intriguing despite not being projected as first-round picks. Beck has shown flashes of high-level arm talent and the ability to operate within structure, while Allar brings a blend of size and raw tools that teams still believe can be developed. Neither is a finished product, but that’s the point at this stage of the draft.
For teams like the Steelers and Jets, it’s less about finding an immediate savior and more about building a pipeline. Taking a quarterback on Day 2 or early Day 3 allows them to invest in upside without the pressure that comes with a first-round selection. It also gives coaching staff time to develop these players behind the scenes.
There’s a broader strategy at play here. Since the top of the board doesn’t offer quarterback value, teams will pivot. They’ll fill other needs early, then circle back to the position when the risk is lower. In a class like this, that approach could separate the teams that reach from the ones that stay disciplined.
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As draft night unfolds, don’t be surprised if the Steelers and Jets stay patient. With few top-tier prospects, the real quarterback movement won’t come in the first round. It’ll happen in the final waves where players like Beck and Allar will go off the board.
