In the beginning of the offseason, Steelers president Artwork Rooney II mentioned that the crew could be seeking to the draft both this 12 months or subsequent for a quarterback. Whereas I’m as optimistic as the subsequent individual about Will Howard, he was a sixth-round choose. It’s a comparatively protected assumption that they are going to be going all-in on touchdown a first-round quarterback subsequent 12 months through the 2026 NFL Draft that shall be held in Pittsburgh. The George Pickens commerce this morning to purchase one other 2026 third-round choose looks as if a transparent a part of that technique.
“Clearly, we shall be trying within the draft as properly both this 12 months or subsequent. That [quarterback position] needs to be the precedence,” Rooney advised Steelers reporters on the finish of January.
GM Omar Khan admitted that the crew’s free company choices had been made this 12 months with the compensatory draft choose system in thoughts. Their huge signings had been gamers minimize by their earlier groups to mitigate any affect on the comp choose system and maximize their return for dropping gamers like Dan Moore Jr., Justin Fields, and Russell Wilson. Because it stands, the Steelers are the one crew projected to get the utmost of 4 compensatory draft alternatives in 2026.
Whereas the Steelers had the third-worst draft choose worth within the current 2025 draft, they need to be close to the highest of the league in worth for 2026. Here’s a tough estimate of what their picks may appear like.
| Spherical | No. of Picks |
| 1 | 1 |
| 2 | 1 |
| 3 | 3 |
| 4 | 2 |
| 5 | 2 |
| 6 | 2 |
| 7 | 1 |
A few of these compensatory picks might even be larger relying on incentives and taking part in time. If Wilson holds down the beginning job in New York over Jaxson Dart, that projected fifth-round choose can fairly simply develop into a fourth-round compensatory choose.
The Steelers made seven picks and solely two inside the highest 120 in 2025. They may very simply find yourself with 12 picks and 6 inside the highest 120 subsequent 12 months. That provides them greater than sufficient ammunition to maneuver across the draft board whichever approach they see match.
If the Steelers’ 2025 roster is as unhealthy a some are billing it to be, they could be choosing in (or simply outdoors of) the highest 15. That will enhance the worth of all their authentic picks and put them inside placing distance of coming into the highest 10 to draft their future franchise quarterback.
Issues are coming collectively for the Steelers to have their franchise quarterback stroll throughout the stage in Pittsburgh as they host their first draft because the Nineteen Forties.
