The Pittsburgh Steelers may have a future Hall of Famer under center, but their long-term plans could already be shifting. A latest 2026 NFL Mock Draft links the Steelers to a college quarterback with 57 touchdowns and legitimate starting potential.
If that projection holds, it could put 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers’ future role under the spotlight. So, who is this rising young passer? Let’s dive in.
Steelers Could Target Garrett Nussmeier After Playoff Collapse
Per NFL Draft expert Jacob Infante of PFSN, Garrett Nussmeier of LSU could be a great fit for the Steelers. The draft analyst wrote that Nussmeier checks several key boxes evaluators look for in a pro-ready quarterback, noting his accuracy, football IQ, and calmness under pressure.
Infante noted that while Nussmeier’s uneven stretch in 2025 could cause him to slide down draft boards, his 2024 tape tells a different story, one where his command, pocket awareness, and on-field judgment reflect the traits of a quarterback capable of eventually developing into an NFL starter.
But before you make a decision about right or wrong, let’s take a look at his stats. Nussmeier’s most productive collegiate season came in 2024 when he threw for 4,052 passing yards and 29 touchdowns across 13 games. He finished that year with a 142.7 passer rating while completing 64.2 percent of his passes for LSU.
That campaign highlighted his ability to operate a high-volume passing offense, as he averaged over 311 passing yards per game during the season. In 2025, his production dipped amid inconsistency, finishing with 1,927 passing yards and 12 touchdowns in nine games, alongside a 72.0 Total QBR. Notably, during his 2024 campaign, Nussmeier was also taken down 16 times behind the line of scrimmage.
Across these recent seasons, the LSU quarterback has showcased both high-end production and volatility that continue to shape his draft projection heading into 2026. On the other hand, the Steelers’ offensive shortcomings came into sharp focus during the 2026 NFL postseason.
The unit failed to generate even 300 total yards and averaged under 5.0 yards per play, while the passing attack ranked outside the top 20 in net yards per attempt among playoff teams. Persistent protection issues led to multiple sacks, and the Steelers converted fewer than 40 percent of their third downs, underscoring red zone inefficiency that carried over from the regular season.
That’s why bringing in a young quarterback like Nussmeier, who’s already shown he can produce, could finally steady the offense and give it real direction, confidence, and long-term stability going forward. And that is especially under Mike McCarthy as the team moves on from the Aaron Rodgers era.
