Steelers Urged To Draft Top QB Prospect Regardless Of Aaron Rodgers' Status

Steelers Urged To Draft Top QB Prospect Regardless Of Aaron Rodgers' Status originally appeared on SportsNet Pittsburgh. Add SportsNet Pittsburgh as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

With two weeks to go until the 2026 NFL Draft in their city, the Pittsburgh Steelers still don't know if Aaron Rodgers is coming back yet.

While he's expected to return, the timing of his decision could have a major impact on the Steelers' draft plans.

If Rodgers comes back, Pittsburgh can afford to wait on a quarterback in the draft, if it drafts one at all. If he doesn't, however, then quarterback becomes a much bigger priority.

On Tuesday's episode of "NFL Live," former NFL player Mark Spears explained why he thinks the Steelers should take a quarterback with their first pick, regardless of whether Rodgers is coming back or not.

Specifically, he thinks Pittsburgh should try to draft Ty Simpson to be the team's next franchise quarterback.

"There's a lot of glaring issues in Pittsburgh, but the one glaring issue that you cannot win without in this league, is high-level quarterback play," Spears said. "You gotta take swings at quarterbacks out of college and hope one of them can turn into their Dak Prescott."

Simpson is ESPN's consensus No. 2 quarterback prospect, so he'd be a great get for the Steelers if he falls to them at No. 21.

Simpson is coming off four years at Alabama, where he earned the starting job last year as a junior. He immediately established himself as one of the better quarterbacks in college, leading the NCAA in pass completions and pass attempts last season.

The 23-year-old has a ton of potential and is nearly two full decades younger than Rodgers. With Rodgers' career winding down, Pittsburgh would be wise to snag his potential long-term replacement if possible.

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