Why Steelers may make this Ty Simpson decision during NFL Draft

Whether or not the Pittsburgh Steelers would or should make Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Ty Simpson the 21st overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft continues to spark conversations on local and national sports-talk programs. 

For a piece published on Thursday morning, Steelers reporter Mike DeFabo of The Athletic touched upon when the club could add a signal-caller to its roster during the upcoming player-selection process. 

This will "weigh heavily" into the Steelers' Ty Simpson decision

"The Steelers have done extensive homework on this year’s quarterback class," DeFabo wrote. "Alabama’s Ty Simpson, Miami’s Carson Beck and Penn State’s Drew Allar met with the team at the NFL Scouting Combine. Beck and Allar also took pre-draft visits to Pittsburgh, but Simpson did not. While many analysts continue to speculate about Simpson going to the Steelers at pick No. 21, I get the feeling his limited experience (15 starts) will weigh heavily into the team’s evaluation and will be a deterrent — at least early in the draft."

The fact that the Steelers reportedly won't feel "forced" to draft a quarterback even if Aaron Rodgers chooses retirement over returning to the club for another season could lead one to believe that Pittsburgh will let Simpson go elsewhere. Meanwhile, one unnamed NFL coordinator insisted earlier in April that Allar is his "favorite quarterback in the draft" other than Fernando Mendoza. Mendoza is expected to go to the Las Vegas Raiders as the first overall selection. 

Which quarterback prospect "checks each box" for the Steelers?

Per Jake Brockhoff of Steelers Depot, team reporter Brian Batko of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette suggested during the latest edition of "The North Shore Drive" podcast that Pittsburgh could view Allar as the draft's QB3. DeFabo seems to disagree with such assessments. 

"Beck would be the one who best checks each box," DeFabo added about what the Steelers may want in a quarterback prospect not named Mendoza or Simpson. "After throwing for more than 3,000 yards in each of the last three seasons, he’s the high-floor QB; Allar is the high-ceiling passer if someone can help him translate his traits into on-field production. For that reason, the Steelers likely favor the long-armed, big-handed Miami QB somewhere in the middle rounds."

In his latest mock draft posted on Wednesday, The Athletic's Dane Brugler predicted that the Philadelphia Eagles will grab Beck in the fourth round of the draft (pick No. 137). Thus, the Steelers may have plenty of opportunities to select Beck if they choose to pass on Simpson.