The Pittsburgh Steelers will be in rare waters for the franchise in 2026 as they move on from Mike Tomlin and bring in Mike McCarthy as head coach. Ahead of the new season, a huge question being asked is whether McCarthy will use a first-round pick to secure the polarizing quarterback Ty Simpson out of Alabama as a potential franchise passer.
Will Mike McCarthy and the Steelers Take a Swing on Ty Simpson?
The 2026 quarterback class for the NFL Draft is both intriguing and potentially frustrating for NFL teams evaluating prospects. Outside of Indiana’s Heisman winner, Fernando Mendoza, there is a wide gap between him and the rest of the quarterback prospects, including Simpson.
Despite only starting 15 games in his collegiate career, Simpson is seen by more than a few as a first-round pick. PFSN’s Ryan Moran is one of those who believes the Alabama passer is worthy of a high pick. Moran has tapped the Steelers as the team to select Simpson with their 21st overall pick.
“The Pittsburgh Steelers’ quarterback position is currently unknown,” Moran writes. “Aaron Rodgers could play another year for them with Mike McCarthy now being the head coach. As of now, though, that is speculation.
“McCarthy will likely want a long-term solution at quarterback that he could develop. Ty Simpson, from Alabama, has only one year of experience, so he will need to be eased in early. However, he has the arm talent and athleticism to develop into the answer for McCarthy in the years to come.”
If Simpson does become a member of the Steelers on the first night of the 2026 NFL Draft, it could cause some unhappy ripples to spread through the black and gold fanbase. The team took a similar chance on a first-round quarterback after Ben Roethlisberger’s retirement, which led to the Kenny Pickett debacle.
Pickett will be on his fifth NFL team when the 2026 season kicks off, playing as a backup for the Philadelphia Eagles, Cleveland Browns, Las Vegas Raiders, and now the Carolina Panthers. His time with the Steelers was underwhelming at best, as he threw 13 touchdowns and 13 interceptions in two seasons.
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The experience with Pickett means that if the front office decides to draft Simpson, he will have an uphill battle to convince the fans that he isn’t another failed experiment under center.
Pittsburgh has been active in free agency in 2026, adding talent on both sides of the ball, including receiver Michael Pittman Jr. and defensive players Jamel Dean and Jaquan Brisker. If Moran predicted the correct pick, Simpson will be heading to a roster that is potentially brimming with talent. The question will be whether he can make the most of the situation and prove the skeptics wrong.
