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Steelers showing interest in Carson Beck.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are doing their due diligence on the quarterback prospects ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Pittsburgh has a question mark at quarterback as Aaron Rodgers is a pending free agent, and he could either retire, re-sign, or sign elsewhere. Regardless of whether Rodgers returns, Pittsburgh will likely look to draft a quarterback, and one name is rising up their draft board.
Steelers insider Mike DeFabo of The Athletic believes former Georgia Bulldogs and Miami Hurricanes quarterback Carson Beck is rising up Pittsburgh’s draft board.
“The Steelers met formally with three quarterbacks this week: Alabama’s Ty Simpson, a potential first-round pick, Penn State’s Drew Allar and Miami’s Carson Beck,” DeFabo wrote. “I heard from several people that all three had positive meetings. At least above the neck, they put their best foot forward. …
“On the flip side, I don’t think I’ve written Beck’s name yet this offseason. That should probably change. The quarterback who led the Hurricanes to the national championship game had a strong on-field workout at the combine, even while he was booed by a Pro-Hoosiers crowd. He’s kind of in the opposite situation as Simpson, with a lot of experience (43 starts; 37-6 as a starter at Georgia and Miami). I’m starting to wonder where the Steelers will put him on their board.”
Beck led the Hurricanes to the National Championship Game, but Miami lost to the Indiana Hoosiers. He finished the year throwing for 3,813 yards, 30 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. Beck finished his college career throwing for 11,725 yards, 88 touchdowns, and 32 interceptions.
Steelers Expect Aaron Rodgers Back
Pittsburgh is hoping Rodgers returns for another season.
Rodgers led the Steelers to an AFC North title and the playoffs, but his future is up in the air. Yet, DeFabo believes Pittsburgh is expecting Rodgers to return in 2026.
“Aaron Rodgers had positive exit meetings with the Steelers in January,” DeFabo added. “In the weeks since, people on all levels of the organization — players, coaches and top decision-makers — have maintained consistent communication with the quarterback. The Steelers believe they’ll get an answer from Rodgers in the next few weeks.
“General manager Omar Khan suggested as much publicly, and a number of other team sources indicated the entire organization is under that same assumption. The best way to describe the Steelers’ feelings: They think Rodgers is going to return for 2026, but until he gives them a definitive answer, they can’t speak in certain terms.”
Rodgers threw for 3,322 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions for the Steelers last season.
Beck Discusses Meeting With Pittsburgh
The Steelers met with Beck at the Draft Combine, and the quarterback impressed the Steelers.
Beck was also impressed with the Steelers and getting a chance to talk to Mike McCarthy.
“(McCarthy) is super, super smart,” Beck said. “Really, really smart coach. That meeting, it was a lot of ball talk, for the most part. There was a couple questions about obviously just figuring out who I am and wanting to know who I am, but it was a lot of ball talk.
“I really enjoyed that meeting. It was really just me and him going back and forth the whole time, just talking football, which is what I love to do.”
The NFL Draft is set for April 23-25 in Pittsburgh.
Cole Shelton Cole Shelton covers the NHL, MLB and Cleveland Browns for Heavy.com. He has covered pro and college sports since 2016, including bylines at BJ Penn, USA Today, SB Nation, Rotowire, Canadian Baseball Network and more. More about Cole Shelton
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