The addition of quarterback Aaron Rodgers marks yet another stopgap option for a team in a tailspin at the position since the retirement of Ben Roethlisberger. Head coach Mike Tomlin seems to be completely incapable of bringing in or developing a quality quarterback, whether it is via free agency or the NFL draft.

Having said all that, it feels like 2026 is going to be the year the Steelers go back to the well and spend a top draft pick on a potential franchise quarterback. The Steelers crashed and burned in 2022 when they selected Kenny Pickett in the first round. It was a reach, it was a swing and a miss and it really exposed the team’s ability to scout a proper quarterback.

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Nevertheless, the 2026 quarterback class is shaping up to be the best group since the loaded 2024 NFL draft class, so we like the Steelers’ chances, even beyond the first round.

Here are our early quarterback rankings for the Steelers in the 2026 NFL draft, with the top five having first-round picks and the next four second-round options with huge upside. One caveat, we continue to leave Texas quarterback Arch Manning off the list because he’s set to make way too much money over the next two seasons in college to leave unless he’s sure he would go No. 1 overall.

1 – Cole Klubnik – Clemson

A prototypical NFL quarterback for the modern game with a very high ceiling.

2 – LaNorris Sellers – South Carolina

Freakish athlete with a very high football IQ and just overflows with Steelers DNA and high character.

3 – Drew Allar – Penn State

Allar checks all the boxes for arm talent and intelligence as a thrower and has underrated mobility.

4 – Fernando Mendoza – Indiana

Our pick to be the big riser this season after throwing more than 3,000 yards in 11 games last season.

5 – Garrett Nussmeier – LSU

A little undersized but burst on the scene in 2024 in his first starting year, throwing for mroe than 4,000 yards.

A winner whose production extends well beyond the box score.

7 – Carson Beck – Miami

Hard to believe Beck went into the 2024 season as the top quarterback in the draft and struggled so much. He is eyeing a bounceback.

8 – Nico Iamaleava – UCLA

The definition of a character red flag after his NIL debacle but his natural skills will give him a chance to prove he’s changed.

9 – Taylen Green – Arkansas

Elite dual-threat quarterback who is as good a runner as he is a thrower.

This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Ranking the Steelers top QB options in the 2025 NFL draft