The Pittsburgh Steelers are entering an offseason filled with uncertainty after a disappointing playoff loss to the Houston Texans. Long-time head coach Mike Tomlin stepped down, and quarterback Aaron Rodgers showed why this season may be his last in the NFL. The Steelers have many significant decisions to make this offseason, and finding a QB will be the top one.
Former NFL QB Thinks the Steelers Could Select a QB Early in the 2026 NFL Draft
With the lack of free agent QB options this year, if the Steelers are looking for a QB, they would have to either trade for one, which would be expensive, or invest in one through the draft. The issue with that is the lack of QB talent in this draft class.
Still, like every year, prospects that many believed would not be drafted in the first round end up getting drafted early, and this could be the case for Alabama’s Ty Simpson.
In analyst Dane Brugler’s latest mock draft, he had Pittsburgh selecting Simpson with the first-round pick. Currently, around the NFL, it seems Simpson is believed to be a Day-2 pick, but Brugler believes his stock could rise, and he is not the only one.
Former QB Chase Daniel reacted to the Steelers’ potential selection of Simpson and said he doesn’t mind it: “I don’t hate the Steelers taking Ty Simpson in the 1st round here. Very likely.”
I don’t hate the Steelers taking Ty Simpson in the 1st round here. Very likely https://t.co/E9WvmjMjt5
— Chase Daniel (@ChaseDaniel) January 15, 2026
Daniel’s mention that this outcome is very likely is also worth noting. Once again, with teams around the league needing new QBs next season, the draft could be where these teams attempt to find an answer.
This causes the stock of QBs like Simpson to skyrocket into the first round. The NFL world just saw this last draft with Jaxson Dart and the New York Giants.
Speaking of draft stock rising, another former NFL QB, Dan Orlovsky, actually thinks Simpson may not be available by the Steelers’ selection. In response to Daniels’ post, Orlovsky wrote, “He won’t make it that far”.
He won’t make it that far
— Dan Orlovsky (@danorlovsky7) January 15, 2026
Besides the QB-needy teams selecting before the Steelers’ pick, there is another reason why Orlovsky thinks Simpson won’t be available. Yesterday, QB Dante Moore announced he was returning to Oregon. This move made an already weak QB class even weaker, and looking at the group, Simpson is by far the second-best available, after Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza.
According to PFSN’s CFB QB Impact Metric, Simpson was the 25th-best QB last season, had the 12th-most passing touchdowns (28), was 11th in passing yards (3,567), and was seventh in attempted passes (473).
These may not look like the greatest stats, but it was his first year starting in CFB, while playing against SEC competition. Simpson’s college career touchdown total is 33, but this past season accounted for 30 of them.
Simpson has excellent potential, and if the next Steelers head coach is patient, the Alabama product could be the perfect option for Pittsburgh.
