Steelers Get Terrible News On Future Franchise Quarterback Plans

The Pittsburgh Steelers have had an uncertain quarterback situation since the day Ben Roethlisberger retired after the 2021 NFL season. The Steelers drafted Kenny Pickett with hopes he could be the franchise quarterback, but that experiment didn’t last long. Since then, the team has been stuck in a bridge situation, relying on veterans like Mitchell Trubisky and most recently Russell Wilson, while also taking a chance on Justin Fields. Despite these moves, the long-term answer at quarterback has remained elusive, and many around the league believe the Steelers are ultimately waiting to draft their next true franchise signal-caller. For now, the Steelers have 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers holding down the QB spot.

With the 2026 NFL Draft scheduled to be hosted in Pittsburgh, speculation has grown that the Steelers are positioning themselves to land a top prospect at the position. Early reports suggested the draft could feature a deep and talented quarterback class, giving fans hope that the franchise might finally reset its future under center in front of its home crowd. However, that optimism has started to waver as the college football season unfolds. Some of the highly touted names have struggled to impress, and what once looked like a loaded group of quarterbacks may not be as strong as initially projected.

Football pundit Steve Palazzolo recently joined 93.7 The Fan to deliver news that left many Steelers fans uneasy. According to Palazzolo, the early returns from college quarterbacks expected to headline the 2026 class are underwhelming, raising concerns about the Steelers’ timing. If the class proves weaker than anticipated, Pittsburgh could find itself once again searching for answers, caught between short-term stopgaps and the long-term franchise quarterback they’ve been chasing since Roethlisberger’s retirement. For now, the uncertainty lingers, and Steeler Nation may have to brace for the possibility that the road to finding their next great quarterback could stretch even longer.

"Yes, absolutely," Palazzolo said on 93.7 The Fan's PM Team during his appearance Thursday. "You start with Arch Manning, who everybody just projected, and it's way worse than we expected. I know this happens every year. 'Wait till next year, there's seven first-rounders. And then the football games happen and it's not the case.'"

The first obvious quarterback who hasn’t performed the way many pundits expected is Texas quarterback Arch Manning. On top of that, other top prospects such as LaNorris Sellers may not even declare for the draft, according to Palazzolo. 

LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier was another big name to watch, but Palazzolo noted he hasn’t been impressed with the Baton Rouge gunslinger.

"Arch Manning obviously looks awful, probably going back to Texas. LaNorris Sellers, great runner, still needs to polish up his game as a thrower. He might be going back to South Carolina, and he's banged up," Palazzolo said. "Garrett Nussmeier hasn't looked good at all. John Mateer is interesting. [Fernando] Mendoza is off to a good start, we'll see this week against Illinois."

Steelers' 2026 NFL Draft Going To Produce Fireworks

Excitement is already brewing in the Steel City as Pittsburgh prepares to host the 2026 NFL Draft for the first time ever. It is expected to be a massive boost for the city, and with a wealth of draft picks, General Manager Omar Khan will likely have an opportunity to take a big swing at securing a quarterback. 

One thing is certain, whether this quarterback class proves to be good, bad, or great as the season unfolds, much more will be revealed in time. Either way, the Steelers are expected to deliver some major fireworks when the draft finally arrives in 2026.

What quarterback would you want to see the Steelers select in the 2026 NFL Draft?