The Pittsburgh Steelers are gearing up for a massive 2025 NFL Draft, but all eyes may start turning to the 2026 NFL Draft after new news broke on Friday afternoon. While the 2025 draft will be important for reshaping the roster, the quarterback class is widely viewed as underwhelming, lacking clear-cut franchise talent. That’s especially significant now that both Russell Wilson and Justin Fields have left in free agency after just one season with the team, leaving Pittsburgh once again without a clear answer under center.
Many NFL pundits believe the 2026 draft could feature a much stronger quarterback class, packed with more marquee prospects who have the tools to become true franchise leaders. Whether that turns out to be true or not remains to be seen, but there’s a growing sense that the Steelers are setting their sights on 2026 as the moment to make their big move at quarterback. That doesn’t mean they’ll ignore the position in 2025—some around the league believe Pittsburgh could still take a signal-caller earlier than expected, but any pick in the 2025 draft may be more of a stopgap than a long-term solution.
Steelers insider Gerry Dulac fueled that speculation during an appearance on "The Rich Eisen Show" on Friday. According to Dulac, the organization is already eyeing the 2026 quarterback class as the one to truly watch. With Wilson and Fields both gone, and no heir apparent on the roster, Pittsburgh is once again in quarterback purgatory. However, if Dulac’s intel is accurate, the Steelers may be willing to wait one more year to finally land the franchise quarterback they’ve been chasing since Ben Roethlisberger retired.
"Rich, I firmly believe that the Steelers are all in on a quarterback in 2026," Dulac said. "That is based off what I have heard and what I have been told."
Despite growing buzz that head coach Mike Tomlin is a big fan of Shedeur Sanders, the odds of the Steelers landing him in the 2025 NFL Draft are slim—unless he unexpectedly falls to them at pick No. 21.
That scenario seems unlikely given Sanders’ projected draft stock. According to Dulac, the more realistic plan is for Pittsburgh to wait until 2026 to find its true franchise quarterback.
"They will have extra draft capital next year, between all the comp picks they will get, the third and fourth-round picks they should get," Dulac said. "I believe that’s when they will make a deal to get an extra number two next year. All of a sudden, you can package an extra number two, and maybe a three and a four, or swap ones to move up to a spot where you can get one of the marquee quarterbacks."
The really exciting part about Dulac’s insight is that the Steelers, and specifically the city of Pittsburgh, will be hosting the 2026 NFL Draft. If the Steelers manage to move up in the draft to secure an early pick for a potential marquee quarterback, it would be a historic moment, especially considering the significance of Pittsburgh hosting its first-ever draft. It’s the kind of narrative that feels straight out of a movie, with the Steelers selecting their franchise quarterback in front of their home crowd, making the moment even more special.
Steelers are spooked by Kenny Pickett
Dulac also made it clear that the Steelers' decision-making is still impacted by their evaluation of Kenny Pickett. Pittsburgh believed Pickett was the best quarterback in a lackluster 2022 draft class, and while they liked what they saw from him, they’re now more cautious about repeating that mistake. The Steelers don’t want to rush into another quarterback decision without full confidence, so they’re taking a more patient approach this time around.
That’s why Dulac believes the Steelers are fully focused on the 2026 NFL Draft, rather than putting all their chips in for 2025. With the 2025 quarterback class seen as underwhelming, Pittsburgh is positioning itself to find a true franchise quarterback in 2026, when a stronger class is expected. The Steelers’ plans are centered on ensuring they get the right guy, and waiting for the 2026 draft gives them the best chance to do so.
