After what seemed like the longest courtship period between a quarterback and a franchise, the Pittsburgh Steelers finally signed Aaron Rodgers to a one-year deal as their starting quarterback. However, it remains to be seen if his tenure lasts a single season or beyond that.
But in either case, the Steelers need to have a long-term mindset going into the 2026 NFL Draft, which is why most analysts have them selecting a quarterback in the first round as their next franchise player.
Will the Pittsburgh Steelers Need a New Quarterback?
Discounting the 2023 season in which he played a singular snap, Rodgers has been far from his four-time MVP self over his last two fully healthy seasons. His final year with the Green Bay Packers was among his worst for the franchise.
Last year with the New York Jets was an abomination from the beginning. However, Pittsburgh is still dead set on moving forward with the former Super Bowl champion in a bid to break their decade-long playoff win drought.
Regardless of the success of the partnership, though, a quarterback in his 40s doesn’t have a long time left in the league, and the Steelers need to prepare for the future. Even if Rodgers sticks around beyond 2025, the franchise could have a Jordan Love-type situation on their hands.
As a result, Matt Miller of ESPN, in his mock draft, pegged them as a potential landing spot for arguably the biggest upside quarterback in quite some time, LaNorris Sellers. Coming out of South Carolina, Sellers is a true dual-threat quarterback and has the stats to back it up.
Last season, he took over the starting job and added 2,534 yards and 18 touchdowns through the air, while rushing for 674 yards and seven touchdowns as well. This year will be the ultimate litmus test for Sellers, but if he can show a Lamar Jackson-type trajectory, then the Steelers could have the ideal answer for their AFC North rivals.
“Sellers is one of the nation’s most exciting prospects,” Miller declared, before adding, “The 6’3″, 242-pounder is big, strong, and mobile and could be picked way before this if he cleans up some decision-making mistakes.”
If he does enter the draft next year, there is a chance he could be a first-round pick that the Steelers could select. However, he isn’t the only name analysts are tying to the six-time Super Bowl champions.
LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier Offers Different Skill Set
For Max Dorsey of PFSN, in his mock draft, the choice is clear with Garrett Nussmeier out of LSU. Taking over from Jayden Daniels, Nussmeier is far from the athlete that Daniels was, but he is a true floor general on the field in every sense of the word.
#LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier (6-2, 200)
In-rhythm passer with clean footwork. Flexible arm to make standout completions. Confidently throws to spots with fearless anticipation. pic.twitter.com/JeaY6x7Yib
— Jordan Reid (@Jordan_Reid) May 16, 2025
“He’s a true point guard and dissects defenses both pre- and post-snap at a high level,” Dorsey said. “While he doesn’t have the biggest arm, Nussmeier can still make all the downfield throws. If they were to select him, he would be the best young quarterback the Steelers have had in years.”
The 2024 season was Nussmeier’s first full year as a starter, and he showed impressive command of the Tigers’ offense. While he lacks Sellers’ mobility, Nussmeier brings the pocket presence and football IQ that Pittsburgh has traditionally valued in their quarterbacks.
For a franchise that has been in quarterback flux since Ben Roethlisberger first departed, adding a potential franchise centerpiece is the way forward. The 2026 draft offers them a ton of choices, each with different strengths that could fit Pittsburgh’s system.
Between Nussmeier and Sellers, though, the Steelers might want to bet on the potential upside of the Gamecocks’ star, given the current state of the weapons around him.
With receivers like George Pickens and Pat Freiermuth already in place, a dual-threat quarterback like Sellers could unlock new dimensions in the offense that coordinator Arthur Smith has been building.