The Pittsburgh Steelers largely handed on the 2025 quarterback class till they chose Ohio State QB Will Howard within the sixth spherical, which would appear to point that they are going to be all-in on drafting one on the high of the 2026 NFL Draft.
It’s a little bit of a foolish train a 12 months out from the draft, however a number of consultants have already taken their shot at the hours of darkness on their first 2026 mock drafts. Unsurprisingly, the Steelers are closely linked to the quarterback class.
With 4 completely different draft consultants, the Steelers have been linked to 4 completely different quarterback names.
The Athletic’s Dane Brugler kicked issues off by mocking LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier to the Steelers at No. 16 general.
“The Steelers may nonetheless be in search of a long-term possibility at quarterback a 12 months from now. Had Nussmeier bypassed his senior 12 months at LSU, groups imagine he might have been the second quarterback drafted on this previous class,” Brugler wrote.
Listed at 6-2 and 200 kilos, Nussmeier is coming into his fifth school season, all with the Tigers. He didn’t get his alternative to be the starter for a full season till 2024, however he broke out in an enormous manner with 4,052 passing yards, 29 TDs, and 12 INTs. He’s extra of a real pocket passer with adverse 96 speeding yards in his school profession.
CBS Sports activities’ Josh Edwards additionally had the Steelers selecting at No. 16 general and linked them to UCLA QB Nico Iamaleava.
“A 12 months in the past, Iamaleava was nearly a foregone conclusion to be part of way-too-early mock drafts. The 2025 season didn’t go as anybody anticipated, and Iamaleava has since transferred again to the West Coast. As with all of those quarterback prospects, Iamaleava has not performed at a No. 16 general degree, however the items are there if he can put all of it collectively,” Edwards wrote.
Iamaleava was the middle of one of many greatest NIL controversies to this point. He was dismissed from the Tennessee Volunteers with their head coach saying, “Nobody is larger than” this system. He didn’t present as much as apply to carry out for his NIL negotiation.
It’s laborious to ding him for attempting to maximise his incomes potential when the NFL is something however a certain factor, however that may rub groups the incorrect manner. That received’t matter if he places up the form of season individuals anticipate him to in 2025.
He solely had 2,616 passing yards with 19 TDs and 5 INTs final 12 months, with one other 358 speeding yards. However his 6-6, 220-pound body, arm expertise, and athleticism will make him some of the talked-about prospects for the 2026 NFL Draft.
FOX Sports activities’ Rob Rang threw out a lesser-known title in Iowa State QB Rocco Becht at No. 18 general.
“Becht would be the headliner this 12 months, particularly if he can construct upon final season’s manufacturing (3,505 passing yards with a 25:9 touchdown-to-interception ratio),” Rang wrote. “Although his stubby body might be a priority for some, scouts love his pocket mobility and mettle beneath stress.”
His father, Anthony Becht, is a former first-round tight finish who performed a dozen years within the league. Becht threw to Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel final season, each of whom had been drafted on Day 2 this 12 months.
Listed at 6-1, 209 kilos, he would actually need to have an important 12 months to be within the first-round dialog.
CBS Sports activities’ Ryan Wilson did one thing attention-grabbing with the Steelers buying and selling as much as No. 10 general to pick Arizona State QB Sam Leavitt.
With all of the draft capital the Steelers have from projected compensatory picks, this may be one of many extra real looking situations, not essentially the title he selected, however buying and selling up into the highest 10 or 15 picks.
“He was an enormous motive why that offense is pretty much as good because it was final 12 months for the Solar Devils,” Wilson mentioned. “He’s a extremely good athlete. He impressed me together with his potential to throw the ball down the sphere, dangle within the pocket. Has a fairly large arm, after which the athleticism I talked about, he can get out exterior the pocket and win that manner.”
Hines Ward, who coaches with the Solar Devils, compares Leavitt’s aggressive spirit to Ben Roethlisberger’s.
After transferring from Michigan State, Leavitt had his first alternative to start out and put up 2,885 passing yards, 24 TDs, and 6 INTs whereas tacking on one other 443 speeding yards and 5 TDs together with his legs. He’s slightly undersized, listed at 6-2, 201 kilos, however one other 12 months of progress might see him within the first-round dialog. The Steelers could have loads of data on him in the event that they ask Ward.
PFF’s Max Chadwick and Dalton Wasserman had the Steelers deciding on No. 14 and taking Penn State QB Drew Allar. If he didn’t have a tough finish to his 2024 season, he could have declared for the 2025 NFL Draft.
“Allar had one other glorious season as Penn State’s starter final 12 months. He is a wonderful protector of the soccer, with a profession 1.5% turnover-worthy play price, and has a cannon arm that he makes use of to sling passes down the center of the sphere,” Wasserman wrote.
No one linked Arch Manning or Cade Klubnik, however we are able to anticipate to listen to extra about these names within the coming 12 months. A few of prospects will rise, some will fall, and a few may not even find yourself declaring in 2026. Because it stands proper now, there are much more first-round potential names than a 12 months in the past on the quarterback place.
Our Jonathan Heitritter broke down among the high 2026 QBs it is best to keep watch over this season.
