Report: Steelers' Potential QB Trade Target Not Available

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been in uncharted waters so far in the 2026 offseason. The Steelers have a new head coach for the first time in 19 years and essentially an entirely new coaching staff as well. Mike McCarthy, a Pittsburgh native, will enter his inaugural season as Steelers' head coach looking to change the standard in Pittsburgh. With several areas of need at different positions, McCarthy has some holes to fill on the roster before the 2026 regular season. Wide receiver has been heavily criticized surrounding the Steelers, but the team also enters 2026 with no definitive answer yet as to who will be its quarterback.

The Steelers are awaiting an answer and some direction from Aaron Rodgers as to whether he will reunite with McCarthy or if he will go in another direction. Should Rodgers decide to not return, one option to fill the potential quarterback void is apparently no longer in the mix for Pittsburgh. Dianna Russini of The Athletic has currently ruled out one of the options that the Steelers could have pivoted to if Rodgers decides not to give it a second year in Pittsburgh.

"For teams looking to swing a deal for 49ers backup QB Mac Jones, I’m told San Francisco is not looking to part with the 2021 first-rounder," Russini said. "Things and offers can change, but the 49ers’ preference is to keep their Brock Purdy-Jones tandem intact for 2026. Jones’ 5-3 record as a starter amid the team’s major injury struggles helped keep San Francisco afloat, and Kyle Shanahan loves what he has in the 27-year-old."

Mac Jones played an integral part in helping the San Francisco 49ers weather the storm with Brock Purdy sidelined in 2025. Jones passed for 2,151 yards with 13 touchdowns and six interceptions in 2025 for San Francisco. Despite the six interceptions, Jones still kept the 49ers in a great position to make the playoffs before the return of Purdy in Week 11. 

With this report from Russini, the Steelers will be in a peculiar spot if Rodgers decides not to return. While Malik Willis has been mentioned as a potential free agent option for Pittsburgh and General Manager Omar Khan, there may not be much else out there available for the Steelers. This could mean that they let Mason Rudolph and their 2025 sixth-round pick, Will Howard, battle it out for the starting job in McCarthy's first year in Pittsburgh.

Steelers Have To Add Talent Around Quarterback Position To Succeed In 2026

With the news of Jones seemingly now being unavailable, the options at quarterback are pretty slim for the Steelers in 2026 if Rodgers chooses not to return. While the NFL Draft did start off with a strong quarterback class back in the summer of 2025, it quickly took a hit during the college football season. 

Drew Allar of Penn State had an underwhelming 3-6 start, which saw its coach James Franklin get fired and Allar also went down with an injury. Arch Manning of the University of Texas was believed to possibly enter the 2026 Draft as well, but those plans changed. 

Regardless of who ultimately is the signal-caller in Pittsburgh, there is a strong need for a number two as well as number three wide receiver for the Steelers. Whoever ends up being the quarterback in Pittsburgh for McCarthy, he will need a deeper and more talented wide receiver room to find success in 2026. This will not only help whoever that quarterback is, but will also greatly benefit wide receiver DK Metcalf. 

Metcalf had a productive year in 2025, but it was nothing near the level that he has produced at before in the NFL. The Steelers also ranked 25th in the league, with 305.6 yards per game in 2025. This was heavily exposed in the Steelers' first-round playoff exit as well. 

The Steelers failed to reach the end zone against the Houston Texans, ultimately falling 30-6. The Steelers are going to have to add talent at the wide receiver position to succeed in 2026 and look like a more modern, competent NFL offense.