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
It’s been an eventful two years for former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett. After the Steelers went 3-0 down the stretch to close the 2023 season under Mason Rudolph , clinching a playoff berth in the process, the writing appeared to be on the wall for the University of Pittsburgh product. The Steelers signed Russell Wilson on the first day of the 2024 league year, which led to Pickett requesting a trade. Pittsburgh sent him to Philadelphia , and he was the backup quarterback to Jalen Hurts when the Eagles defeated the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX. In the 2025 offseason, Pickett was traded once again, as he was dealt to the Cleveland Browns for a fourth-round pick. According to Pickett’s former college coach, Pat Narduzzi, the trade away from Philadelphia is a move that Pickett wanted very badly. “The Eagles did not want to trade him,” Narduzzi said on 99.9 The Fan . “He begged to be traded because he wanted to compete, and he felt like he wasn’t going to have a chance to beat out Jalen Hurts.” Pickett competed throughout the spring and summer of 2025 to be the Browns’ starter alongside Joe Flacco , Dillon Gabriel , and Shedeur Sanders . When it was made clear Flacco would be the starter, the Browns traded Pickett to the Las Vegas Raiders . He now finds himself with the Carolina Panthers after signing as a free agent. 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 says Steelers should release Mason Rudolph Steelers’ Mike McCarthy named coach on hot seat in 2026 Former Steelers safety Ryan Clark releases statement following ESPN firing Steelers WR Roman Wilson listed as player with most on the line in 2026 Former Steelers RB Le’Veon Bell arrested in Ohio
Las week, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers took to Instagram to post photos from a retreat he led with several teammates. DK Metcalf, Michael Pittman, Pat Freiermuth, Ben Skowronek, Mason Rudolph, and Roman Wilson went on a trip to Wyoming, per one of the photos being taken at Jackson Hole. Now, Rodgers has given everyone a rare glimpse into his personal life. On Monday evening, the Steelers' quarterback posted photos with his mother Darla, father Ed, and brother Luke with the caption, "Another bonding week." Rodgers was infamously estranged from his family for north of a decade, as it was revealed by his brother Jordan that the Super Bowl-winning quarterback didn't speak to the rest of the family in 2016 while Jordan was competing on The Bachelorette. "It's just the way he's chosen to do life," Jordan said . "I chose to stay close with my family and my parents and my brother [Luke]." While Rodgers cited his parent's strict religious beliefs as the main reason for the falling out, it appears that the bridge has been rebuilt. 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! Former Steelers RB Le'Veon Bell arrested in Ohio Top 30 greatest Pittsburgh Steelers of all time: No. 20-11 Steelers' Mason McCormick named to PFF's 2026 All-Breakout team Jon Gruden urges Steelers to put their faith in Mike McCarthy Learning the Mike McCarthy offense: What is the West Coast offense?
The Pittsburgh Steelers report for training camp in just over two weeks. After a busy offseason that featured several additions on both sides of the ball, as well as a head coach change for the first time in 19 years, there is a level of excitement and uncertainty the organization hasn’t had in quite some time. Ahead of players reporting to St. Vincent College, quarterback Aaron Rodgers led a retreat with several of his offensive teammates. Rodgers, DK Metcalf , Michael Pittman , Pat Freiermuth , Roman Wilson , Ben Skowronek , and Mason Rudolph all featured in photos posted to Rodgers’ Instagram partaking in activities such as horseback riding and paddle boarding. A photo also featured Pittman and Skowronek dressed in bee-keeper’s outfits. Rodgers captioned the post, “Last rodeo.” Rodgers led a similar get-together with teammates last year, welcoming them to his Malibu home for team bonding. 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! Pittsburgh Steelers top 10 players ahead of 2026 season Former Steelers CB Joe Haden says Mike Tomlin lacked accountability Steelers Super Bowl champion passes away Steelers defender named biggest bust of 2026 ESPN analyst says Steelers’ Zach Frazier could become NFL’s best center
Aaron Rodgers, indicating his likely final NFL season, hosted six teammates (Michael Pittman Jr., Ben Skowronek, Roman Wilston, Mason Rudolph, DK Metcalf, and Pat Freiermuth) for a "bonding week" in a rustic, outdoor setting, emphasizing his "last rodeo" theme
Aaron Rodgers is holding a 'bonding week' with six Steelers teammates, including Michael Pittman Jr., Ben Skowronek, Roman Wilston, Mason Rudolph, DK Metcalf, and Pat Freiermuth, ahead of his declared 'last rodeo' season in 2026. The gathering included outdoor activities and cowboy-themed elements
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
Rudolph could have entered the 2026 season as the Steelers' starting quarterback if Aaron Rodgers had decided not to return to the team. With Rodgers back, however, Rudolph faces legitimate competition for backup slotting from second-year passer Will Howard and rookie third-round pick Drew Allar, who is recovering from an ankle injury. In that scenario, Rudolph may instead become the odd man out in a crowded four-man QB room, especially given the Steelers' apparent commitment to developing both Howard and Allar. Rudolph has established himself as a capable backup with starting experience, and if Pittsburgh makes him available, he could draw modest trade interest from teams looking to upgrade their No. 2 quarterback spot
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
JuJu Smith-Schuster has signed a one-year deal with the New York Giants, ending speculation of a return to the Steelers. Smith-Schuster joins a Giants receiving corps that also added Odell Beckham Jr. and Braxton Berrios, and could see significant targets due to Malik Nabers' injury
Former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson is signing a deal with CBS to become the network’s newest NFL analyst, per Adam Schefter of ESPN. While the role is yet to be defined, it had been rumored that Wilson could replace Matt Ryan on The NFL Today after the former NFL MVP was named the President of Football Operations with his former team, the Atlanta Falcons . Wilson spent one year with the Steelers in 2024. After missing the first six games due to injury, he took over for Justin Fields , who helped Pittsburgh begin the season 4-2. Wilson led the Steelers to four consecutive wins, and went 6-1 in his first seven games as the starter before Pittsburgh lost its final four regular season games and were eliminated in the wild card round by the Baltimore Ravens . Wilson finished the year going 6-5 as a starter while throwing 16 touchdowns to five interceptions. Wilson spent the 2025 season with the New York Giants , going 0-3 as a starter before being replaced by Jaxson Dart . 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 Kaleb Johnson is playing for his job Former Steelers OC Todd Haley fires back at Mike Tomlin comments Steelers rookie labeled player who must produce right away Steelers insider believes Mason Rudolph will be QB2 in 2026 Eric Ebron reveals reason why Steelers offense fell apart in 2020 season
Data comes from cached Sleeper and KTC snapshots. Values update when the sync jobs run.
