Noah Hiles: Sorry to spoil the fun, but the Steelers still need their quarterback of the future

Noah Hiles, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Nov 10, 2026

Published in Football

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PITTSBURGH — Aaron Rodgers is old.

That hasn’t been a problem for the Pittsburgh Steelers this year. It will be come February.

This is Rodgers’ final season. His looming departure serves as a rallying point for now, inspiration for the Steelers to send an all-time great out on top.

But when he’s gone, the franchise will again find itself on the quarterback carousel — a place where it’s resided since 2021.

Mike McCarthy, who has a reputation for being a “quarterback whisperer,” was hired in part to help develop the QB who will replace Rodgers in 2027. Whether McCarthy’s tenure in Pittsburgh proves successful will ultimately come down to that.

It won’t be an easy task.

The Steelers need their next guy, a young talent they can build around but who can also help them win immediately. Right now, the identity of that guy remains a mystery.

Some believe he might already be on the roster.

The Steelers have at times expressed belief in both Drew Allar and Will Howard. Both may receive legitimate opportunities to compete for the starting job next season. But that unproven duo can’t be all there is to choose from.

Allar and Howard are lottery tickets, picked in spots where franchise quarterbacks are rarely found. The 2027 Steelers will almost certainly be looking to win now. If that’s the case, they deserve another choice — one who is projected to have a higher immediate ceiling.

Perhaps that player can be found in this year’s draft.

The 2027 quarterback class looks deeper compared to the two prior, but there are no slam dunks. Experts have highlighted as many as nine prospects capable of going in the first or second round, yet few have separated themselves.

The draft stocks of Arch Manning (Texas) and Dante Moore (Oregon), the original frontrunners, have plummeted. Inconsistent play could force Manning to play another year in college, while Moore suffered a season-ending head injury.

Drew Mestemaker (Oklahoma State) is now the class darling. Mestemaker is still new to the spotlight and has plenty to prove.

Darian Mensah (Miami) and CJ Carr (Notre Dame) are somewhere in the middle. They’re more established and look good on Saturdays but perhaps only because of favorable schedules and their loaded supporting casts.

Trinidad Chambliss (Mississippi) is arguably the most polished passer and would be my desired target. He’s also listed at 6 feet and set to turn 25 this summer, two obvious drawbacks.

Needless to say, the scouting process for this class won’t be easy. The Steelers won’t be the only ones giving a close look, either.

Draft experts have projected as many as 10 teams showing interest in taking a quarterback early on. Many of those teams will likely be picking ahead of the first-place Steelers.

The Steelers have needed a franchise quarterback since Ben Roethlisberger retired. They tried with Kenny Pickett in 2022, taking the former Pitt standout 20th overall in a poor QB class. But Pickett lasted only two seasons.

Mike Tomlin and Co. went the stopgap route with Russell Wilson and then Rodgers, but it is clear the Steelers need to find someone with staying power. Kicking the can further down the road shouldn’t satisfy anyone involved.

Regardless of whom is chosen and how he’s found, next year’s quarterback will inherit an ideal situation.

The offensive line has taken a massive step forward, which has led Jaylen Warren to the brink of stardom. Germie Bernard has flashed WR1 potential. There is a dynamic tight end room. The defense is back to being a force.

Sure, there will be other positions to address in 2027, but quarterback is the biggest piece of the puzzle.

Maybe they’ll love a draft prospect enough to move up and snag him. Maybe they’ll trade for an established veteran in need of a new situation. Maybe Allar or Howard will actually be the guy.

But right now, all that exists is uncertainty — which was tough to ignore on Saturday as we watched Manning, Carr, Mensah and Chambliss all play in big games.

The 2026 Steelers deserve our attention. They’re 6-2 and sit atop the AFC North in early November. Rodgers’ play has been solid — good enough to believe this squad could perhaps make some noise in the playoffs.

Fans should absolutely enjoy what remains of this season because when it’s over, the stress will return. The Steelers will again be searching for a new quarterback. And this search will come with much higher stakes.

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