We’ve gotten through just the first week of free agency, and already a number of teams with question marks at quarterback have found a solution. A thin draft class at the position necessitated some proactive movement by a couple of teams in free agency to fill the role behind center, clearing things up a bit as we start to look forward to the 2026 NFL Draft. 
It seems a foregone conclusion at this point that the Raiders will be selecting Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick next month. Past that, it’s unclear how many other passers, if any, will hear their names called in the first round. Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson is widely seen as the QB2 behind Mendoza and likely the only other college arm worth taking Day 1. These factors usually depend on necessity, so how needy are today’s NFL teams for a rookie quarterback?
The Dolphins, Falcons, and Vikings are three teams who opted to go the free agency route to address the position. Miami released Tua Tagovailoa after six years with the team and opted to sign free agent Malik Willis off a two-year stint as a backup in Green Bay. Atlanta quickly picked up the Dolphins’ scraps, signing Tagovailoa to the veteran minimum to compete with their other lefty quarterback in an open competition. Minnesota chose a similar route, bringing in Kyler Murray after his release from Arizona.
Obviously, there’s a chance that none of the three situations work out. Willis has only started six games in his career, Tagovailoa just turned in the worst season of his career, and Murray has missed over half the season twice in the last three years due to injury. And while signing these free agent options could stand every chance to turn things around, as well, it serves another positive purpose. Signing these quarterbacks allows these three teams to kick the can down the road to next year’s draft class or maybe even the class after that, in hopes of a more QB-rich group.
Looking at the current QB landscape around the NFL, it seems there are perhaps four teams for whom it would make sense to draft a quarterback this year — not counting the Raiders. These are teams that currently roster (or will likely roster) a veteran quarterback who can start while a drafted rookie is developed until they are ready to step in. These teams would be the Cardinals, Browns, Jets, and Steelers. Technically, the Rams could fit in here, as well, but as long as Matthew Stafford is playing at an MVP level and keeping the team in contention, Los Angeles isn’t likely to use a top pick on a passer.
Even between those four teams, the Cardinals will see veteran Jacoby Brissett return alongside newly signed free agent Gardner Minshew, the Jets traded for Geno Smith and return Justin Fields, and the Browns could see Deshaun Watson dueling with Shedeur Sanders in 2026. These situations don’t necessarily have the potential for ceilings as high as what the Dolphins, Falcons, and Vikings could see, but those QB duos could potentially serve as bridges to buy time for later draft classes all the same.
That leaves us with the Steelers, who are currently set to return only Mason Rudolph and Will Howard at quarterback. There are some expectations that 42-year-old veteran Aaron Rodgers could come back to play another season with his former Packers head coach Mike McCarthy now in charge in Pittsburgh, but Rodgers has been taking his time in making a decision.
If he does come back, this could set up the perfect situation for Simpson. One of Simpson’s biggest knocks is that he has only played one season of college football as a starter. Allowing Simpson to sit and learn under Rodgers could end up being the perfect recipe to building the next star passer to wear black and yellow. It seems we’re not alone in that thought, either. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk claimed yesterday to have sources who believe the Steelers “will take him if he’s on the board when Pittsburgh makes the 21st overall pick.”
Steelers have shown they cant develop late 1st round QB’s after Pickett, Simpson doesnt have the physical gifts to succeed by himself
That’s not true. Kenny was just terrible, no one could’ve developed him. You can’t take a sample size of one untalented player and make an extremely specific claim like “the Steelers can’t develop late 1st round qbs”
One QB and that’s your reasoning? Amateur.
“ Steelers have shown they cant develop late 1st round QB’s after Pickett”
1. Different regime under Tomlin than under McCarthy who has a pretty friendly QB system that’s helped make careers for Rodgers and Prescott.
2. You know how many “late 1st round QBs” Steelers have drafted last 45 years? 2
Malone in 1980 at 28th overall
Kenny Pickett at 20th overall in 2020
Suggesting they “can’t develop 1st round late QBs is a lazy man’s take based on 1 QB lmao Kenny Pickett
3. You fail to acknowledge the impact Covid had on teams during that year. That whole draft was a crap shoot cause of Covid and how teams couldn’t properly evaluate or run the process like normal compared other years with guys being out no crowds adjusted rules etc
4. If you’re gonna state something like it’s fact you need more than 1 example to prove your point
Browns can’t develop a franchise QB is a pretty accurate statement given their investments since their return to the NFL
Sorry 2022. The 2020, 2021, 2022 drafts were all crap shoots cause guys really didn’t have the traditional collegiate experience like other guys before them. Was very hard to judge guys coming out since stuff was limited during those years
The not being able to de bb elope a QB syndrome was all mike tomlin. New coach who does wonders with young qbs.
McCarthy’s only starting QBs was Prescott, Rodgers, and Favre (he did help develop Rodgers but that was 20 years ago)
His system does sound good for QBs compared to Tomlin but it remains to be seen whether he can work with a young inexperienced guy again
Just had to find some way to talk about Aaron Rodgers I guess. Ridiculous article.
Kenny Pickett 2.0
Steelers need some QB insurance yesterday
I’m not a Steelers Fan…but No…..Either Draft someone that will help them with that pick…..or Trade it for a Future 1 in 2027 which is expected to have an excellent QB class. Then they will be in a position to Draft a QB with one of their 1s or perhaps package them to move up if necessary. Over-Drafting out of desperation is always the wrong move.
The “sources” are just a smoke screen to get someone ahead of them in the draft to take Simpson, while letting a more talented player at another position drop to 21.
I don’t think that Simpson would be there, honestly, but bringing Rodgers back with Simpson sitting for a year seems like a good plan. Using that pick to add other talent also seems like a great plan. The Steelers signed a bunch of free agents and made other acquisitions that look great on paper, but their young core of players definitely could use a lot of bolstering.
The roster is going to rely heavily on older talent this year (and possibly next); they could definitely compete in their division if all goes well, but Pittsburgh still could really benefit from adding more long term pieces at various positions. Simpson could be a part of that, albeit at QB, but I think that the Steelers could also get other players to build a long term foundation and make progress that way. In any case, I actually don’t think that Simpson will be there at 21, so the point may end up being moot. I don’t think, off the top of my head, that there’s another QB worth taking there that would be left (might as well stick with Howard, in my eyes).
All the more reason Steelers should trade for Adams
Run it back with Rodgers for 1 year with Metcalf Adams Pittman Jr Freiermuth and Washington
Give Mike McCarthy his old QB and some brand new toys.
Let Simpson sit for a year and develop.
I’m gonna say this and it’s not just because I’m related to him… I believe he will be a better quarterback than Julio Mendoza or whatever that kid’s name is that if everyone keeps talking about is going first overall
This article was written last night so Fields is no longer returning to the Jets, which would have been awkward. It’s musical chairs at QB1 and QB2 for a lot of teams. Aaron Rodgers will probably return to the Steelers to be QB1. Carson Wentz will probably come to the Jets to be QB2 due to his familiarity with Frank Reich’s system. The Jets could take Simpson with the Colts’ pick but I doubt it. It’s more likely they would if he fell to them in the second round. The Jets will probably be looking for a WR2 with #16 pick.
The Steelers need to more than other teams because the guys other teams brought in like Geno Smith, Kyler Murray, Willis, Penix/Tua, Sanders, etc all have at least the possibility of being the starter beyond 2026-2027. The Steelers will not have a capable QB or even one with upside beyond this season. If Rodger’s comes back this is it. If they think Simpson could be the guy with a year to learn they had better take him. Who knows if Rodger’s would even be effective one more season at his age and maybe Simpson comes in at some point during the season. The sit approach has worked wonders in GB why not for the Steelers. It’s the 21st pick too. Not to say it’s not valuable but it’s not like you’re taking the risk of a top five pick. My guess is the Steelers are about as good maybe a notch above last year if Rodger’s is consistent again but that doesn’t get you the first pick. Maybe it’s in a deeper class but in a deeper class unless you trade up your picking the fifth or sixth qb. A Bo Nix is your hope