Gerry Dulac: Don't expect Steelers to draft QB early, with or without Aaron Rodgers

Gerry Dulac, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Mar 3, 2026

Published in Football

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PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers could find out this week if Aaron Rodgers intends to return for the 2026 season to be their starting quarterback, even though his decision will not affect what they might do in the April draft.

Before he left after the playoff loss to the Houston Texans, Rodgers told the Steelers he hoped to make a decision before the start of free agency, which is March 9.

If he does return, that will bring a little more clarity to what the Steelers plan to do at the position. If he doesn’t, that will further muddle their plans for 2026 and could cause them to do something they likely had hoped to avoid – bring in another free-agent quarterback.

But it won’t force the Steelers into taking a quarterback in the first round of the draft out of desperation.

The Steelers have little if no intention of taking a quarterback with their top pick because they think there is only one — Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza — worthy of going in the first round.

But just because they wouldn’t draft a quarterback in the first round doesn’t mean they wouldn’t take one from among the four picks they have in Day 2. However, it’s more than likely it wouldn’t be until the third round.

If they did, it would only be because they believe that quarterback has a higher ceiling than Will Howard, last year’s sixth-round quarterback who continues to get lots of praise from the Steelers hierarchy.

The Steelers met with three quarterbacks at the combine in Indianapolis — Alabama’s Ty Simpson, Penn State’s Drew Allar and Miami’s Carson Beck. According to various sources, Mike McCarthy’s handling of the interviews was detailed, interrogative and impressive.

If Rodgers gives the Steelers his decision this week, that will be the first step toward bringing some clarity to a position that has lacked stability for five years.

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