As the 2026 NFL Draft looms, the Pittsburgh Steelers find themselves at a franchise-defining crossroads. With a new head coach in Mike McCarthy, they are once again staring down massive uncertainty at the sport’s most critical position.
The national media drumbeat is growing louder, calling on Pittsburgh to make a splash. The primary target in the crosshairs? Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson.
Why the Steelers Should Target Ty Simpson in the 2026 NFL Draft
The Steelers currently hold the No. 21 overall pick in the first round, placing them in a precarious spot. They sit just outside the guaranteed range for the draft’s top-tier signal-callers but right in the sweet spot to take a calculated gamble on a player with Simpson’s pedigree and upside.
On a recent episode of “Get Up,” ESPN’s Mike Tannenbaum laid out the exact dilemma facing Pittsburgh’s front office. Echoing the sentiments of former NFL executives, he passionately argued that the team cannot afford to remain passive. Highlighting the fragility of the Steelers’ current quarterback room, Tannenbaum emphasized that the time to act is right now.
“If I’m Pittsburgh, I got to strongly consider him at 21, because look, we don’t know what Aaron Rodgers is going to do, but even if he was there, he’s going to be 43 in December,” said Tannenbaum.
Aaron Rodgers’ twilight years have brought undeniable intrigue to the Steel City, but relying on an aging signal-caller is a risky long-term strategy for a team trying to stabilize its future. Behind Rodgers, the developmental safety net is relatively thin.
“You have Will Howard, an unproven six-round pick, and Mason Rudolph, who’s a very competent backup,” added Tannenbaum.
Tannenbaum rightly points out that neither Howard nor Rudolph currently projects as a definitive franchise savior. This is exactly where Simpson enters the equation.
After orchestrating the Crimson Tide offense, Simpson has flashed the kind of raw tools, arm talent, and leadership traits that NFL evaluators covet. While opinions vary on his exact ceiling, his potential is undeniable.
During the 2025 season, Simpson earned a PFSN CFB QB Impact metric score of 85.4, which ranked him 25th in all of college football.
“Ty Simpson has a chance to be a good star in the NFL,” said Tannenbaum. “Until you have one, go get Ty Simpson.”
The urgency to draft a player like Simpson isn’t just about repairing the offense. Pittsburgh boasts a proud, physical defense that has kept its playoff window ajar, but that unit isn’t getting any younger. Wasting their remaining prime years without a formidable quarterback plan would be a massive disservice to the roster’s veterans.
“Like, you have a defense that’s good, albeit aging, but if I’m Pittsburgh at 21, I have to take a long look at Ty Simpson,” explained Tannenbaum.
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Whether the Steelers heed this advice remains to be seen. Trading up might be necessary if Simpson’s stock continues to soar, or perhaps he falls right into their lap at pick 21.
Regardless of the draft-day mechanics, the message from analysts across the league is unified and clear: Pittsburgh desperately needs its quarterback of the future, and Simpson might just be the ultimate answer.
