The Pittsburgh Steelers have a lot of different options available to them in the upcoming free agency period. They have plenty of holes to fill, and a lot of draft capital — not to mention a ton of cap space. There have been a lot of names floating around as to who the Steelers could acquire in free agency and the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft, but the big question is quarterback. The Steelers are one of a few teams with a huge question mark at the position, and a new name has just come up as a potential option for the Black and Gold.
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New Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy giving his introductory press conference alongside Team President Art Rooney II and General Manager Omar Khan.
Many people have expected the Steelers to retain Aaron Rodgers for the 2026 season, while others believe Will Howard will get his chance to shine. However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t other names circulating out there for the Steelers to go acquire. On the latest episode of the Kaboly + Mack show, hosts Mark Kaboly and Chris Mack discussed the several options the franchise has surrounding their quarterback of 2026 and beyond. When they were discussing the options the team has should Rodgers not return, for some reason, Kaboly brought up a veteran name that has largely been overlooked.
“Who’s out there for you to go get?” Kaboly asked. “Now I mentioned a guy today that, if Rodgers doesn’t come back, would be interesting, a veteran like Easton Stick, you know? Because he’s had some contact with Tom Arth, he’s a guy that’s just a veteran, like a Skylar Thompson. You could add that guy in two weeks.”
Kaboly mentioning a guy like Easton Stick, a quarterback currently with the Atlanta Falcons, is one of the most interesting names thrown into the carousel of Steelers quarterback options as of early March. Stick currently sits on the Falcons practice squad, and has not played a single game with the franchise since getting sent there in 2025.
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Current Atlanta Falcons quarterback Easton Stick (2) in a regular season matchup during his time with the Los Angeles Chargers.
In the limited time Stick saw on the field with the Los Angeles Chargers, Stick performed as well as one would have expected. His best game came in Week 15 of the 2023 NFL season, where he threw for 257 yards and three touchdowns. Stick did not win a single game that he participated in, and has not seen the field since the 2023 NFL season.
The idea of the Steelers acquiring Stick would likely be to make him an option as a backup should one of the current quarterbacks on the roster not return — someone like Mason Rudolph. Having depth at the quarterback position is vital for any team, and Stick would likely not be expected to start any games, whether or not Rodgers returns. He would be a player you could possibly depend on to come in for relief in case the starter got injured.
The idea that Stick would be an option for Pittsburgh has weight, considering Stick has had previous contact with Steelers Quarterbacks Coach Tom Arth. Despite the connection there, it remains to be seen on what the Steelers will do regarding pursuing Stick. However, as Kaboly said, pursuing him remains on the table. The connection with Arth could be exactly what Stick needs to land in Pittsburgh and start fresh again.
Steelers Need To Ensure Stability In The Quarterback Room
With how tumultuous the Steelers’ current quarterback room is, the franchise needs to find a way to bring some stability to the team. Regardless of the plans of Rodgers, bringing in a guy like Stick could keep some stability in the locker room, and create an interesting competition between Howard and Stick for the starting quarterback role, should Rodgers not re-sign. Time will tell on what the Steelers will do, but it will be an interesting ride regardless. Stick may not be the flashiest name, but one to certainly keep tabs on.
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Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) during a postseason matchup between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Houston Texans.
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