Steelers Insider Drops New QB Name to Monitor

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers are one of the teams most involved in the quarterback position ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft. Outside of presumptive first-overall pick Fernando Mendoza, the team has done extensive scouting and research on the class. From general manager Omar Khan to new head coach Mike McCarthy’s recent comments, it’s clear that quarterback is a huge piece of their draft plans.

Some project the Steelers to take a quarterback as early as the first round, but the consensus is that the organization will draft one at some point. From the players they’ve shown the most interest in and from what sources have told Steelers On SI, the middle rounds are the most likely time for the Steelers to grab that QB prospect. Players like Drew Allar from Penn State and Carson Beck from Miami are two very commonly connected names that are projected to go on day two.

But according to one insider, the Steelers are not done with their work before the draft. Speaking on the Kaboly + Mack show, Mark Kaboly added LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier to the organization's pre-draft visit list.

”I think he’s coming in for a visit here soon,” he said. “I’m not quite sure 100%. With his old man, I think Omar is familiar with him, and I think McCarthy is familiar with him.”

Nussmeier’s Potential Fit With Steelers

Before the 2025 season began, many pegged Nussmeier as a first-round pick in this year’s draft. That sentiment has changed greatly after an injury-filled final season at LSU. An abdominal issue plagued him all season, and his production dipped as a result.

Now, he’s a day three target who has the potential to go earlier if an organization is eager to take a risk on the 24-year-old. For the Steelers, he might make some sense in the later rounds.

Even after a tough final year in the NCAA, Nussmeier has a few qualities that stand out. The first is his accuracy. When he’s playing his best football, he displays a high-level of ball placement and ability to make very difficult throws. The second is his intelligence. He's shown an ability to recognize opposing defenses and coverages at a similarly high level while at LSU.

He’s not a perfect fit for the Steelers, admittedly, and that has to be acknowledged. But coach McCarthy wants to mold a young quarterback, already showing excitement at the prospect of working with and developing Will Howard. It’s possible that Nussmeier has a set of his own exciting traits that McCarthy wants to work with this season.