Ty Simpson-Steelers – Pittsburgh isn’t expected to draft Ty Simpson with the No. 21 pick, while Aaron Rodgers’ uncertain return timetable keeps the Steelers’ plans in flux ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft.
The Steelers’ quarterback conversations are heating up as the 2026 NFL Draft approaches, but the most prominent name in the rumor cycle—Ty Simpson—may not land in Pittsburgh at No. 21.
Pittsburgh’s stance. as Misryoum understands it. appears measured: the team has scouted Ty Simpson and other options in the class. yet indications suggest they may not be ready to pull the trigger early in the first round.. That doesn’t mean the position is off the board entirely.. Instead, the expectation is that the Steelers could prioritize other needs before revisiting quarterback value later in the draft.
A key backdrop is Aaron Rodgers’ situation.. Pittsburgh still believes he’ll be on the roster next season. but his future has not been formally locked in by contract.. The timing matters more than fans may realize because it shapes roster planning. draft selections. and how aggressively the team feels pressure to hedge.. Rodgers previously didn’t sign his one-year deal with the Steelers until early June. a window that implicitly reminds everyone in the building that “later” can still mean “fine. ” as long as the decision comes before training camp demands full clarity.
Within the draft chatter. Misryoum is seeing a split narrative: mock drafts and scouting projections place USC wide receiver Makai Lemon in Pittsburgh’s range at No.. 21, while Ty Simpson figures as a prospect more likely to be available later.. In those scenarios, the Steelers would avoid taking a quarterback too early—especially with the No.. 21 selection—while still using the draft to add depth or a future developmental piece.
Why Ty Simpson at No. 21 looks unlikely
The Steelers’ internal decision-making seems to hinge on one simple question: if Rodgers is coming back. why spend a premium first-round pick on a quarterback now?. Pittsburgh’s recent history also matters.. A few years ago. the team used a top-20 pick on Kenny Pickett. but that move came in a different era and with different coaching structure.. With Mike McCarthy now in the picture. Misryoum expects draft philosophy to be one of the first visible fingerprints—how aggressively the staff pushes for a particular position. and how quickly it commits to a new quarterback plan.
That’s also why Simpson could be the type of player the Steelers prefer to evaluate through the middle rounds if the board falls a certain way.. If he’s projected to come off the board later—rather than at No.. 21—the value equation becomes easier to justify without changing the team’s immediate trajectory.
The Rodgers factor and Steelers planning pressure
Rodgers’ pending confirmation adds a layer of uncertainty that fans feel even if the organization is calm.. Steelers decision-making has to account for NFL reality: injury risk. offseason departures. and the possibility that a quarterback room can’t wait indefinitely.. Yet Pittsburgh’s reported confidence suggests they aren’t seeing enough smoke to force an emergency first-round quarterback selection.
There’s also the practical side.. Waiting for Rodgers doesn’t just delay paperwork—it influences what the team can afford to do elsewhere.. If Pittsburgh drafts a quarterback early, that choice compresses resources and potentially creates a logjam of player development priorities.. If the team expects Rodgers to return. it can afford to build the surrounding roster first and treat quarterback depth as a “maximize long-term” project rather than an immediate necessity.
What the Steelers could do later in the draft
Mock projections that send the Steelers toward a quarterback in round three—such as Penn State’s Drew Allar being linked to a mid-draft meeting—fit the broader theme: preserve flexibility. A later pick can help Pittsburgh add a prospect without resetting the timeline of the offense.
Simpson’s profile, meanwhile, makes the “later if available” approach sensible.. He spent four years at Alabama, with 2025 as his lone season as the starter.. His stat line—3. 567 passing yards. 28 touchdowns. and five interceptions in 15 games—signals a quarterback who produced in a system designed to ask for real decision-making. not just scripted survival.. For a team that believes Rodgers will handle the immediate ceiling. those traits can be attractive as an upside developmental asset.
Still, teams don’t draft on potential alone; they draft fit. Misryoum expects the Steelers to weigh how any new quarterback would learn under their current staff, how quickly he could absorb the playbook, and whether his style matches what the offense needs to run well even as personnel evolves.
The real swing: McCarthy’s first draft mindset
Mike McCarthy’s first season as head coach is likely to bring more than changes in practice habits.. It can alter how the front office and coaching staff define “value.” Some staffs chase certainty at premium positions; others build around the existing quarterback framework and add reinforcements where they believe the margin is greatest.
That’s the tension driving the Ty Simpson-Steelers buzz right now.. Pittsburgh appears to be attempting a clean alignment: confirm Rodgers first. then tailor the draft to reinforce the overall roster strategy.. If Rodgers ultimately returns, the Steelers can justify a calmer approach in Round 1.. If his timeline extends or changes. the organization may still have to pivot—though the current signals suggest they want to avoid doing that.
For fans. the next few weeks won’t just be about scouting reports; they’ll be about watching how fast the Steelers adjust to the quarterback decision that’s been hanging in the air.. And for Simpson. the question is simple: will Pittsburgh decide that “later” is still good enough—or will the board force a first-round decision that the current plan seems to resist?
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