And then there was one. Quarterback Drew Allar has signed his rookie deal with the Steelers , the team announced on Friday. That means Rams quarterback Ty Simpson is the lone remaining unsigned QB from the 2026 draft. Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza and Cardinals quarterback Carson Beck put pen to paper with their respective teams earlier this week. Allar was the No. 78 overall pick in the third round in April after four seasons at Penn State. He is one of four in Pittsburgh ’s QBs room, along with Aaron Rodgers , Mason Rudolph , and Will Howard
And then there was one. Quarterback Drew Allar has signed his rookie deal with the Steelers, the team announced on Friday. That means Rams quarterback Ty Simpson is the lone remaining unsigned QB from the 2026 draft. Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza and Cardinals quarterback Carson Beck put pen to paper with their respective teams earlier this week. Allar was the No. 78 overall pick in the third round in April after four seasons at Penn State. He is one of four in Pittsburgh’s QBs room, along with Aaron Rodgers, Mason Rudolph, and Will Howard
The Steelers are projecting their 2026 53-man roster, with Will Howard seemingly set to be QB2 behind Aaron Rodgers, potentially leading to a trade of Mason Rudolph. The running back room will likely feature Dowdle and Warren as the top two, with Travis Homer securing a spot due to special teams ability. At wide receiver, Metcalf, Pittman, Bernard, Skowronek, and Wetjen are considered safe, with competition for the WR4 spot between Roman Wilson and Noah Brown, and Curtis Samuel also a possibility
Drew Allar has some familiarity with the West Coast offense, but the Steelers rookie quarterback doesn’t know nearly as much about Mike McCarthy’s offense as Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers played for McCarthy in Green Bay from 2006-18. Allar will get at least one season to watch and learn from Rodgers and McCarthy, who has also had Joe Montana, Brett Favre and Dak Prescott as his quarterback. “I’m really excited to learn from [Rodgers],” Allar told Eric Williams of Fox Sports. “With him being in coach McCarthy’s system in Green Bay, it’s beneficial because he knows the system inside and out, even though he hasn’t played in it in five or six years at this point. And just everything he’s going through in his career, playing in tens of thousands of snaps, how much experience and knowledge he has — the nuances of playing the position of quarterback, reading coverages, the defensive tendencies — any little thing I can pick up to help me process faster and be more accurate, I’m all in for it.” Allar, a third-round pick, is fourth on the depth chart behind Rodgers, Mason Rudolph and Will Howard. “It’s really just taking it a day at a time,” Allar told Williams. “They do a great job of building it out throughout practice with the quarterback in individual drills. They do a great job of emphasizing things throughout each day, just so I can get that foundation, because the footwork is a little different than what I’m used to. “We were under center a little bit at Penn State, but not in the drop-back game. It was more run game and play-action game. So, just getting cleaner with under-center drops and drop-back footwork. And just really trying to pick up on the nuances of it. Just some different teaching, and it’s really cool to be a part of that. And kind of have another chapter to learn from and grow from. I already feel a lot more comfortable in it, and I know I’ve just got to keep my head down and keep working at it.”
In less than a month, the Pittsburgh Steelers will report for training camp in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. These open summer practices will give us a good idea of what specific aspects will be different under new head coach Mike McCarthy. With a bevy of draft picks this past April, Pittsburgh will have to make some tough cuts down to 53 players at the conclusion of the preseason. Here are three players who have something to prove, and may be fighting for a spot on the final roster this August. Will Howard was given QB2 reps for the Steelers in OTAs and throughout their offseason program. It should be expected that this trend will continue into training camp. However, I wouldn’t necessarily pencil in Howard as the solidified backup quarterback just yet. In fact, I think we should be treating this training camp and preseason as more of a tryout period for Howard. It’s important to keep in mind that Howard has played zero snaps in any preseason or regular season games in his career. Howard missed the majority of training camp last summer with a hand injury that prevented him from getting valuable reps. Now, Howard is very much a wild card in year two in a room with two established veterans in Aaron Rodgers and longtime backup Mason Rudolph . The new coaching regime also went out of its way to select Drew Allar in the third round to essentially have a redshirt year and develop as the third-string quarterback. This leaves Howard in a very cut-and-dried situation. It’s to earn the backup spot or be cut. Steelers insiders seem to be echoing this sentiment in their early final roster projections. So much of the discourse online will almost certainly be about who looks better between Howard and Allar when, in reality, you should be comparing Rudolph and Howard. Can the Steelers feel comfortable enough going into the season with Howard and Allar behind their soon-to-be 43 year-old quarterback despite having no regular season experience? That will be the question the coaching staff will be asking itself all summer. McCarthy raving about Howard after he was hired may have been a touch exaggerated, but make no mistake about it, the Steelers are giving the sixth round pick a shot this summer to make the team and catapult into an important backup role. The 2025 third-round pick had a complete dud of a rookie year. Johnson only mustered 2.5 yards per carry on his 28 attempts, and made a major special teams blunder that all but kept him off the field in kickoff situations for most of the year. Johnson now has a brand new coaching staff that did not draft him in charge, and has arguably stiffer competition in the running back room as compared to last year. The signing of Rico Dowdle killed any momentum towards getting serious carries for Johnson. Dowdle provides the Steelers with a true between the tackles back, something they could have used more of last year despite Warren being more than capable in that role. It’s notable that both running backs who could challenge Johnson for a roster spot come cut day both have track records in special teams play. Homer was signed as a special teams ace, so it would make sense for him to make the team, but Heidenreich could be an interesting scenario. What the Steelers want to list Heidenreich as on the final roster could be the difference between Johnson making the team or not. Heidenreich’s best shot to make the roster could very well be at receiver, clearing the way for Johnson to make the team. Unfortunately, the former third-round pick seems to be fighting for a roster spot this summer. Even if Johnson makes the final roster, it is tough to see him earning any carries barring injury this season. Perhaps no single player on the Steelers’ roster got a bigger offseason bump than Spencer Anderson . Despite signing Brock Hoffman and drafting Gennings Dunker in the third round, it seems as though Anderson is going to head into Latrobe as the starting right guard with a legitimate shot at cementing tha
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The Pittsburgh Steelers and their quarterback situation will be one of the bigger storylines to follow throughout training camp next month. Pittsburgh has four quarterbacks, with two having roster spots all but guaranteed. Obviously Aaron Rodgers will be on the roster, and it feels almost equally as certain that rookie third-round pick Drew Allar will be on the roster, given how high he was drafted. That leaves Mason Rudolph and Will Howard potentially fighting for the final roster spot as the primary backup to Rodgers, and long-time Steelers reporter Mark Kaboly predicts that Pittsburgh will keep Rudolph while cutting Howard in hopes of keeping him on the practice squad. “Who makes the final cut, and how QB2 and QB3 are set, will be the talk of training camp,” Kaboly writes . “Rodgers is entrenched as the starter in the final year of his storied career. But considering he’s 41, in his 22nd season, and the Steelers want to develop a long-term quarterback between third-round pick Allar and Will Howard, it’s not a simple process. For the record, I would keep all four quarterbacks, but the Steelers don’t seem very interested in doing that. McCarthy has never done that in his 18 years as a head coach. Regardless of what happens in the preseason, Rudolph and Allar slot in at QB2 and QB3, with Howard the odd man out. Trying to stash Howard on the practice squad might not be that daunting, considering he was a sixth-round pick with no reps to speak of as a rookie.” Kaboly once again noted that he doesn’t believe the Steelers should cut Howard, and that he would keep four signal-callers. However, he does think Pittsburgh will not put the former sixth-round pick on the 53-man roster. “I would absolutely keep four QBs on the roster. I don’t believe the Steelers will, hence Howard to practice squad (if possible),” Kaboly posts on X. “You don’t cut Rudolph after loading up roster in offseason with a new coach in place while you have a 22-year vet as your starting QB.” It’s not unprecedented that a team keeps four quarterbacks to start the season. The New Orleans Saints did so in 2021, although it feels a bit rich to count Taysom Hill as a quarterback. In totality, though, it is very rare, as only five teams have done so since 2013 . Let us know what you think in the comments . Be sure to bookmark Behind the Steel Curtain for all the latest news, breakdowns, and more! Steelers defender named as surprise trade candidate Steelers offense named one of worst in NFL NFL analyst tabs Steelers’ Mike McCarthy as NFL Coach of the Year candidate C.J. Stroud emerges as Steelers 2027 QB option Steelers sign versatile defensive back to one-year deal
The Pittsburgh Steelers will all but certainly be in the market for a quarterback in 2027, being that Aaron Rodgers has made it clear that 2026 is his final season. Rookie Drew Allar and former 2025 sixth-round pick Will Howard remain potential options, as Mike McCarthy and his staff look to develop the two young quarterbacks. However, if the Steelers wanted to go with a more proven name in 2027, there are a few names they could target. Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield is set to be a free agent next March, and he himself set a hard deadline for a deal to get done before training camp. And now, a current AFC quarterback becomes one to monitor. Per DJ Bien-Aime of ESPN, the Houston Texans and C.J. Stroud aren’t close to contract extension before the 2026 season. “Stroud and the Texans aren’t close to a deal as of late June,” Bien-Aime writes . “Houston and its quarterback are in a tricky spot because last season did not end the way either would’ve preferred. “Stroud threw four interceptions against the Patriots the AFC divisional round. A performance like that can cause hesitation when the extension for Stroud could be in the $55 million to $60 million range per year. With how negotiations are currently going, it’s gearing up to be a prove-it season for Stroud.” Stroud had a terrific rookie year in 2023 throwing for 4,108 yards, 23 touchdowns, and just five interceptions. The Texans won the AFC South in Stroud’s first year, which was also head coach DeMeco Ryans ’ first season as head coach. Houston has been a playoff team in each of the last three seasons, and they have won a playoff game each season, as well, making him just the third quarterback in the Super Bowl era to accomplish such a feat. The Texans picked up the fifth-year option for Stroud, meaning even if they don’t get a long-term deal done between now and next offseason, he is still under contract with Houston. So if the Steelers did want to acquire him, it would have to be via trade. Stroud is 2-0 against the Steelers in his career, with one win coming in 2023 and another coming this past January in the wild card round. The Texans won both games 30-6. Pittsburgh will host Stroud and the Texans in Week 13 on Sunday Night Football . Let us know what you think in the comments . Be sure to bookmark Behind the Steel Curtain for all the latest news, breakdowns, and more! Steelers sign versatile defensive back to one-year deal Steelers named landing spot for All-Pro WR Stefon Diggs Steelers unable to draft QB Brendan Sorsby, per NFL ruling T.J. Watt welcoming change with Mike McCarthy as he chases return to dominance Steelers under the radar defender named big winner of offseason
This weekly roundup of Steelers news touches on developing quarterbacks Will Howard and Drew Allar, the Brendan Sorsby saga, charity events, and contract extensions for Joe Tippmann of the Jets and the interior offensive line market. It also briefly mentions game themes and the potential for a draft pick to have gambling issues
Howard, a 2025 sixth-round pick, is still looking for a chance to make his NFL debut after spending his rookie year largely in an emergency No. 3 QB role behind Aaron Rodgers and Mason Rudolph. The Steelers, and new head coach Mike McCarthy, have spoken highly of Howard's development entering Year 2, and with Rodgers back in the fold, he's in line to compete with Rudolph and rookie third-round pick Drew Allar for backup slotting. It begins as a crowded situation, but Howard brings some upside to the table. He flashed in his only year as Ohio State's starting quarterback in 2024, leading the Buckeyes to a national championship while surpassing 4,000 passing yards and totaling a 35:10 TD:INT
The Pittsburgh Steelers ’ quarterback room is already full as is. With four signal-callers currently on the roster, adding a fifth before training camp would be a shock, to say the least. However, there is a rare case in which a first-round talent is available in the supplemental draft. Former Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby’s appeal to have his eligibility reinstated has been denied by the NCAA. This comes after Sorsby was found to have gambled on his own team while at Indiana. And while he won’t be playing college football in 2026, there is a change Sorsby finds himself on an NFL roster, though he won’t come cheap. Per Tony Pauline, should a team take Sorsby in the supplemental draft, it could cost a first or second round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft. “Multiple sources inside the league tell me if QB Brendan Sorsby of Texas Tech is unable to regain eligibility for the ’26 college season & forced to enter a supplemental draft, he will be a late 1st/early 2nd round pick depending on the order,” Pauline writes . “Presently Sorsby is graded higher than Arch Manning by several area scouts as we head towards the season.” Should the Steelers take the leap and use a pick on Sorsby, they would basically be saying he is the quarterback they are betting on for the future, and it would mean that both Will Howard and Mason Rudolph would be out the door. Sorsby threw 27 touchdowns to five interceptions and led the Big 12 with a passer rating of 155.5 in 2025. Let us know what you think in the comments . Be sure to bookmark Behind the Steel Curtain for all the latest news, breakdowns, and more! Don’t rule out Baker Mayfield as the Steelers’ 2027 quarterback Steelers TE Pat Freiermuth shares early takeaways on Drew Allar Projecting contract extension for Steelers CB Joey Porter Jr Pittsburgh Steelers trade rumors shut down by NFL insider Steelers sign former first round linebacker to one-year deal
During this year’s free agency cycle and 2026 NFL draft, all four AFC North teams made significant moves to add talent to their rosters. While more additions are still possible over the next few months, everyone’s core players are mostly set ahead of the 2026 season. How do the different positional groups in the division stack up to one another? Let’s rank the AFC North squads by position, starting with quarterback. Starter: Lamar Jackson Depth: Tyler Huntley , Skylar Thompson, Diego Pavia , Joey Fagnano Jackson is coming off a disappointing 2025 season that was muddied by nagging injuries, which limited his athleticism for much of the year. He started to round more into form over the final few games, but the Ravens fell just short of the postseason. In a new offensive system surrounded by fresh personnel and coaches, Jackson should be primed for a big bounce back in 2026. The Ravens re-signed Huntley, who is the most optimal backup to Jackson, to a two-year deal this offseason. Huntley is one of the better second-stringers in the league. They added competition for the No. 3 spot with a veteran in Thompson and two undrafted free agent rookies. Starter: Joe Burrow Depth: Joe Flacco , Josh Johnson, Sean Clifford Burrow played in only eight games last season but again produced at a high level and led a potent Bengals’ offensive attack. Like Jackson, Burrow is still undoubtedly one of the premier quarterbacks in the NFL despite injury struggles and not making the playoffs again in 2025. The Bengals re-signed Flacco to return as Burrow’s backup after he joined the team in the middle of the season last year. Flacco performed admirably and is still a quality veteran backup and spot-starter at 41 years old. Journeyman Josh Johnson was signed to a one-year contract earlier this offseason as well, who is a capable third-string quarterback. Starter: Aaron Rodgers Depth: Mason Rudolph , Will Howard , Drew Allar After a long wait this spring, the Steelers wound up re-signing Aaron Rodgers to return for what will be his final NFL season. Rodgers, now 42 years old, was still probably the best option available for the Steelers. He finished middle-of-the-pack in most statistical categories among starting quarterbacks last season, but should have an improved offensive ecosystem around him in 2026. The Steelers also made a high-profile move in the draft by acquiring Penn State’s Drew Allar in the third round, who has the potential to develop into a starter-caliber quarterback. Mason Rudolph and rising sophomore Will Howard provide quality depth behind Rodgers. Starter: Deshaun Watson Depth: Shedeur Sanders , Dillon Gabriel , Taylen Green The Browns’ quarterback room is once again a bit of a jumbled mess, clouded by the return of the highly paid Deshaun Watson. Watson is a true wild card having not played since the middle of the 2024 season. He’s played only 19 games for the Browns since 2022 and his on-field performance has left much to be desired. Shedeur Sanders is competing with Watson for the starting role. Sanders has more long-term upside than Watson at this point but had a very shaky rookie season. Fellow rising sophomore Dillon Gabriel appears firmly in third pecking order spot after starting games last year
While the 2026 NFL season hasn't started, the Pittsburgh Steelers are already looking ahead to 2027 at the quarterback position. With Aaron Rodgers retiring and uncertainty around Drew Allar and Will Howard, Baker Mayfield, whose contract with the Buccaneers expires after 2026, could be a target. Mayfield has expressed a desire to stay in Tampa Bay but admitted no extension is close. He has been productive over the last three seasons, ranking high in touchdowns and yards, and leading the Bucs to two playoff appearances
Diontae Johnson, a former Steelers wide receiver, is attempting an NFL comeback, posting a video of his training. Johnson has had a tumultuous career since leaving Pittsburgh, playing for multiple teams including the Panthers, Ravens, Texans, and Browns, and was most recently released by the Browns in the preseason of 2025
Former Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin was seen at Game 6 of the NBA Western Conference Finals in San Antonio between the Spurs and Thunder, amongst several other athletes and respective celebrities. Of those athletes that attended San Antonio’s 118-91 win was Green Bay Packers All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons, who was seen dapping up Tomlin and conversing with the former Steelers head coach by Yahoo! Sports . While talking, Parsons made a pitch to Tomlin. “We’ve got a spot for you,” Parsons said. “Just keep coming north.” While this was said in a tongue-in-cheek manner, Tomlin is one of the more popular coaches in league circles, especially to players. However, it’s as close to a certainty as one could get that he wouldn’t take a job with a team unless it was as the head coach. Additionally, the Packers and Matt LaFleur reached an agreement on an extension back in January, so don’t expect to see Tomlin in Green Bay in 2027. Parsons and the Packers will visit the Steelers to kickoff the preseason on August 13th. Let us know what you think in the comments . Be sure to bookmark Behind the Steel Curtain for all the latest news, breakdowns, and more! Steelers RB Rico Dowdle excited for ‘thunder and lightning’ duo with Jaylen Warren Steelers LB Patrick Queen responds to trade rumors, contract talk Ben Roethlisberger has serious doubts about Drew Allar Steelers QB coach raves about Will Howard’s performance in OTAs Steelers have big plans for Jalen Ramsey
The Pittsburgh Steelers are the only team in the NFL with two running backs who topped 1,000 scrimmage yards in 2025. Jaylen Warren finished last season with 1,291 yards from scrimmage and eight touchdowns. After letting 2025 team MVP Kenneth Gainwell walk in free agency and seeing him land with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers , Pittsburgh reunited head coach Mike McCarthy with Rico Dowdle, who is coming off his second consecutive 1,000-yard season and had 1,373 total yards with seven total touchdowns. Combining their talents gives Pittsburgh one of the more dangerous duos in the NFL, something that Dowdle is very excited to be part of. “[We’re] thunder and lightning,” Dowdle said via Chris Adamski . “You got two guys who have been productive in this league. It’s always good to have two guys that can go out there and get the job done at a high level.” Dowdle signed a two-year deal with the Steelers worth $12.25 million in March and joins an offense that also added Michael Pittman Jr. and Germie Bernard to go along with Warren, DK Metcalf , Pat Freiermuth , and Darnell Washington as a unit that hopes to take a leap forward in 2026. Let us know what you think in the comments . Be sure to bookmark Behind the Steel Curtain for all the latest news, breakdowns, and more! Steelers LB Patrick Queen responds to trade rumors, contract talk Ben Roethlisberger has serious doubts about Drew Allar Steelers QB coach raves about Will Howard’s performance in OTAs Steelers have big plans for Jalen Ramsey Former Steelers WR reveals why he left Pittsburgh
In 2024, the Pittsburgh Steelers gave linebacker Patrick Queen the richest external deal in team history, signing the former Baltimore Ravens first-round pick to a three-year, $41 million deal. Queen was a Pro Bowl selection in his first season with Pittsburgh, registering 129 total tackles and forcing two fumbles. He followed that up with a 120-tackle season in 2025. As he enters the third and final year of his contract, Chris Adamski asked Queen if there had been any extension talks. “There were talks here and there,” Queen said. “Nothing crazy… no movement either way. At the end of the day, they got business to handle, I got business to handle. My business is to go out there and play the best football I can and put myself in a good position [and] put our team in a good position.” Queen also alluded to being aware of trade rumors that took place ahead of the draft. “Obviously I [saw] the whole charade that went on in the offseason,” Queen said. The Steelers and Cowboys reportedly had conversations about a potential trade involving Queen ahead of the NFL Draft, but nothing came to fruition. Let us know what you think in the comments . Be sure to bookmark Behind the Steel Curtain for all the latest news, breakdowns, and more! Ben Roethlisberger has serious doubts about Drew Allar Steelers QB coach raves about Will Howard’s performance in OTAs Steelers have big plans for Jalen Ramsey Former Steelers WR reveals why he left Pittsburgh Drew Allar needs to be Steelers’ main focus
The Pittsburgh Steelers ’ quarterback situation has been one of the top stories in the NFL for a third consecutive offseason. There was more than enough attention on Aaron Rodgers returning for his second season with the team, but the Steelers added even more discussion around the position when they drafted Drew Allar out of Penn State in April. While Allar has tremendous arm talent, Mike McCarthy and his offensive staff have made it clear that they are stripping his footwork down to the studs and rebuilding that aspect of his game – something that worries Ben Roethlisberger . Speaking on the latest episode of Footbahlin , the two-time Super Bowl champion expressed concern with Pittsburgh feeling the need to completely redo Allar’s footwork. “When I’m watching him do three-step drops, that makes me incredibly nervous. You ask why? You’re refining things. There’s a difference in refining things and like, teaching. When we did football camps, the first things you’re teaching the youngest kids is how to do a three-step drop.” If the Mike McCarthy Quarterback School works its magic on Allar, then the Steelers may have an answer at quarterback for 2027 and beyond. Should they feel that he still isn’t ready heading into next season, don’t be surprised if they take a quarterback in the first round of the 2027 NFL Draft. Let us know what you think in the comments . Be sure to bookmark Behind the Steel Curtain for all the latest news, breakdowns, and more! Steelers QB coach raves about Will Howard’s performance in OTAs Steelers have big plans for Jalen Ramsey Former Steelers WR reveals why he left Pittsburgh Drew Allar needs to be Steelers’ main focus Steelers announce full 2026 training camp schedule
Data comes from cached Sleeper and KTC snapshots. Values update when the sync jobs run.
