After a solid start to the offseason, the Pittsburgh Steelers will head into the draft with many of their needs lessened. They added to multiple positions around the roster, and with 12 picks in their arsenal, the Steelers can be pretty flexible early in the draft.
Which could make things interesting, since the quarterback spot still isn’t secured. It feels likely that Aaron Rodgers will come back, but it may still be some time before that answer comes. With five picks in the first 99, Pittsburgh will have plenty of options to select a quarterback. But Ben Roethlisberger doesn’t think that should happen in the first two rounds.
“I’ve seen some people say quarterback, they should get a quarterback in the second round. I think that’s a huge mistake,” Roethlisberger said Tuesday on his Footbahlin podcast. “Second round, you can get so many really good players, and you don’t waste it on a quarterback right now. Even if Aaron says I’m not coming back, I wouldn’t do it in the second round… I would not draft one in my first three picks, to be honest.”
Without the position secured, many have naturally speculated that Ty Simpson may end up a Steeler. It’s somewhat similar to the speculation around Shedeur Sanders and Jaxson Dart last year, when the Steelers were also sitting at 21st overall. In both instances, they don’t have a decision from Rodgers, so many pair them with a quarterback likely available at that pick.
The second-best quarterback (although that narrative may be shifting as of late) in a week class, Simpson has a lot of hype around him during this cycle. But Roethlisberger doesn’t think the reaction would be pretty if the Steelers announce Simpson as their first-round pick.
“You better hope that first pick they announce up there, is one the fans want,” Roethlisberger said. “They were talking about Ty Simpson, I’m like, alright, they better not. Like that would be the craziest [thing], but if they did that, I think Pittsburgh would boo… Because of the pick, what are we doing?”
Booing may be a bit harsh, but there will surely be some reaction from the fan base regardless of who the Steelers draft. And Steelers fans sure weren’t shy about sharing their frustrations during home losses late in the 2025 season.
For what it’s worth, some report that the Steelers aren’t strongly considering Simpson in the first round. He likely won’t be available when the Steelers go on the clock in the second round either. However, with three third-round picks, a different prospect on Day 2 could be in play.
There are some interesting names in that range. Drew Allar and Carson Beck, two names who Ray Fittipaldo thinks are worth keeping in mind, should be available at that point. Pittsburgh also set up a meeting with Cole Payton, who should also be on the board.
Pittsburgh has five combined picks in the third and fourth rounds. The Steelers have plenty of chances to draft a QB in that range. Roethlisberger just hopes it doesn’t happen too early.