The 2026 NFL Draft takes place April 23-25, in Pittsburgh. \u201cBreakfast with Benz\u201d is previewing potential Steelers selections at each position group with Matt Williamson, a former pro and college scout who has worked at Pitt and with the Cleveland Browns. Williamson is an on-air host at WDVE, Fox Sports Pittsburgh 970, and the Steelers Radio Network.<\/p>\n
We start our coverage for 2026 with a look at the quarterbacks and the running backs in Monday\u2019s podcast.<\/p>\n
Despite the Steelers\u2019 clear need for a long-term answer at quarterback, it\u2019s probably best to assume Aaron Rodgers is going to be the team\u2019s QB in 2026. All indications suggest that will be the case, even if it appears that it is going to take a while for the Steelers to get a straight answer.<\/p>\n
Also, the Steelers still have a frequently used backup in Mason Rudolph, and last year\u2019s project pick in Will Howard, who the franchise allegedly likes and seems to be strategically promoting<\/a> to its fan base.<\/p>\n So, while evaluating the quarterbacks of this year\u2019s class as potential first-rounders, it\u2019s probably best to look at the group through the lens of whether there is a QB who is worthy enough to take this year at No. 21 (or higher with a trade) to put on ice for a year and learn behind Rodgers.<\/p>\n Or, to have in their back pocket if June comes and Rodgers isn\u2019t on board by then, this time.<\/p>\n Based on how former pro and college scout Matt Williamson sees the 2026 class, beyond presumptive No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza (Indiana), that doesn\u2019t appear to be the case.<\/p>\n Should Rodgers retire or sign elsewhere, he doesn\u2019t see this year\u2019s answer \u2014 or a long-term solution \u2014 in this crop of signal callers.<\/p>\n \u201cIf Rodgers is a no-go, it\u2019ll end up being (Derek) Carr or (another veteran). Someone who isn\u2019t super exciting, but has been around the block. I don\u2019t think you just throw Howard into the mix. I think that\u2019s total crazy talk,\u201d Williamson said during Monday\u2019s \u201cBreakfast with Benz\u201d podcast<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cI know people hate hearing this, but I would really put all my chips into next year\u2019s quarterback class. I just think there\u2019s much better and way more guys to pick from next year. \u2026 This is boring, but I kind of think it\u2019s Rodgers, Rudolph, Howard and maybe a seventh-round camp-arm. Then go all-in next year.\u201d<\/p>\n According to Williamson, there\u2019s only one name for the Steelers to even consider at the No. 21 slot in the first round.<\/p>\n \u201cTy Simpson from Alabama. And that\u2019s not a move I would make,\u201d Williamson insisted. \u201cHe just doesn\u2019t quite do it for me. He\u2019s intriguing, he\u2019s very twitchy. He\u2019s very smart. But guys with his number of starts (15) have really struggled in the league. He\u2019s smaller (6-foot-1, 211 pounds), in a Kenny Pickett type of way. He gets beaten up and thrown around. That, to me, is not where I\u2019m hitching my first-round wagon.\u201d<\/p>\n Ty Simpson took a LICK pic.twitter.com\/yncU5iZDik<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 LandonTengwall (@LandonTengwall) November 30, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Williamson used a baseball analogy to provide texture as to why he\u2019d stay away from Simpson at No. 21.<\/p>\n \u201cI thought this even before the Pickett draft pick, but I feel it stronger after that. If I\u2019m going for a first-round pick at this position, I\u2019m (going for) Dave Kingman. I\u2019m swinging for the fences. If I strike out, so be it,\u201d Williamson said. \u201cI am not (going for) Vince Coleman. I am not a singles hitter. I am not settling for a Pickett-type prospect.\u201d<\/p>\n Those criticisms aside, Williamson does think Simpson is the best QB on the board after Mendoza, and would consider him in the second round if Rodgers stiffs the Steelers between now and the draft. But Simpson is likely to be gone by that point in the second round (pick 53 overall).<\/p>\n \u201cRealistically, I don\u2019t see an option that adds up with the Steelers. I would consider (a QB pick) in the third, fourth, fifth, all the way down till the end. I am a believer that taking a quarterback every year is a smart move. And they have (12) picks,\u201d Williamson continued. \u201cSo taking a bite of the apple, hoping you hit a home run, makes all the sense in the world to me.\u201d<\/p>\n A guy with that Day 3 type of profile who interests Williamson is Cole Payton of North Dakota State.<\/p>\n \u201cHe really reminds me of Tim Tebow \u2014 good, bad and ugly. He is a big, strong, muscle-bound lefty,\u201d Williamson said. \u201cHe is super athletic. He is also stiff in his upper body, like Tebow. He needs a lot of work with his mechanics and things of that nature. But tools? I adore him. This guy can run down on kickoffs for you. He could be Taysom Hill. He makes a lot of big-time throws. He\u2019s the name for that (third day) price. You might get lightning in a bottle.\u201d<\/p>\n Featured Local Businesses<\/p>\n 6\u20e31\u20e3 yards. To. The. House.<\/p>\n Cole Payton is electric. pic.twitter.com\/QqOnO3RHwX<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 NDSU Football (@NDSUfootball) September 9, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n Williamson thinks that while Payton incubates, he could perform the \u201ctush push\u201d duties that Connor Heyward used to handle. And he may be able to help the team with a specialty package of plays like Hill has done over the years in New Orleans.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Williamson is not high on Penn State quarterback Drew Allar.<\/p>\n \u201cAllar, to me, is just not a natural quarterback. He doesn\u2019t have a very good feel for the position,\u201d Williamson said. \u201cHe throws the ball hard, but there\u2019s a lot of clunkiness to it. He\u2019s not a natural thrower. He was never a pitcher. He was never a javelin thrower. I worry about Allar. Many people think that\u2019s the guy to take a chance on. Maybe. Big. He has a big arm. He looks great walking into the room. But after that, I don\u2019t see a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n Two plays later, Drew Allar threw an interception. pic.twitter.com\/Behf8uHRgj<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) January 10, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Also, during the podcast<\/a>, Williamson gives his full assessment of how he thinks Mendoza will perform for Las Vegas. We talk about the running backs, specifically how high Notre Dame\u2019s Jeremiyah Love may go. And we debate if the Steelers will take a running back at all now that they have added Rico Dowdle and Travis Homer to the roster.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Tuesday\u2019s preview highlights potential draft choices at wide receiver and tight <\/a>end<\/a>. <\/p>\n