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Steelers Owner Shockingly Reveals Team Will Not Draft QB In Round 1
TL;DR
Pittsburgh Steelers president Art Rooney II announced the team will not draft a quarterback in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. This unusual transparency from Rooney is notable for fans and analysts alike.
Key points
- Art Rooney II confirmed Steelers won't draft a QB in Round 1
- Announcement made ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft
- Rooney's transparency is considered unusual in NFL
Mentioned in this story
Pittsburgh SteelersArt Rooney II
NFL Draft
Pittsburgh Steelers president Art Rooney II
Steelers Owner Shockingly Reveals Team Will Not Draft QB In Round 1 originally appeared on SportsNet Pittsburgh. Add SportsNet Pittsburgh as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Pittsburgh Steelers fans know longtime owner Art Rooney II to be a straight shooter. The 73-year-old is not known for mincing words, so when he came right out and said that his football team will not be drafting a quarterback in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, we should probably believe him.
Still, his decision to show his cards to Action News 4 anchor Andrew Stockey is a little bit abnormal.
“I think I can tell you one thing, it's probably not going to be a quarterback,” Rooney told Stockey. “But beyond that, it's wide open. Of course, it depends on what happens in front of us. But, you know, I think it'll be exciting to build. Interesting. A lot of interesting players in this Draft.
“But as you probably know, we have 12 selections in this Draft. So we have an opportunity to really add some talent to the roster.”
The Steelers are positioned in the perfect place to draft the best available wide receiver, safety, or guard that falls to them at pick No. 21. The way things are shaping up right now, Pittsburgh could land the best guard prospect in years in Olaivavega Ioane out of Penn State.
They could also have their choice of day-one starting safeties in Dillon Thieneman and Emmanuel McNeil-Warren.
Q&A
Why did Art Rooney II announce the Steelers will not draft a QB in Round 1?
Art Rooney II's announcement reflects a strategic decision for the team, indicating they have other priorities for the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
What does this mean for the Steelers' quarterback situation?
By not drafting a quarterback in the first round, the Steelers may be signaling confidence in their current roster or looking to address other positions of need.
How unusual is it for an NFL owner to reveal draft intentions?
It is quite uncommon for NFL owners to publicly disclose their draft plans, making Rooney's openness a noteworthy departure from typical team secrecy.
