Andrew Buller-Russ
Last year, the Pittsburgh Steelers were willing to be extremely patient, waiting out Aaron Rodgers‘ career decision. This year, we’ve seen a similar story play out in Pittsburgh, but now that they have a new head coach in Mike McCarthy, even if he’s familiar with Rodgers from their time together in Green Bay, is the team’s leadership getting nervous?
Rodgers is 42. He’s already played 21 seasons; there’s no guarantee he’s itching to come back for a 22nd. What if Rodgers leaves the Packers high and dry this time?
Recently, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette‘s Steelers insider Gerry Dulac suggested that the team’s patience “could be starting to wear thin” in relation to Rodgers. Thus, if for some reason Rodgers and the Steelers didn’t re-align later this offseason, which quarterback could Pittsburgh turn to instead? Here are 10 potential QB options for the Steelers in 2026.
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Jimmy Garoppolo
There have been suggestions that Jimmy Garoppolo is weighing retirement at the age of 34. He hasn’t found a new home in free agency after spending the past three seasons with the Los Angeles Rams. Yet, this is a player who has played extremely well, playing winning football to the tune of a 43-21 regular season record and 4-2 in the playoffs. He may not have a strong arm, but the Steelers may view him as a better version of Mason Rudolph. Plus, he’d cost less than Rodgers.
Will Levis
Largely forgotten about since the Tennessee Titans made Cam Ward the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Will Levis was someone who once showed a lot of promise. The 33rd overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft is still just 26 years old, and he has as lively an arm as any other option. He also has great size, at 6-foot-4, 230 pounds. Levis just hasn’t been accurate enough, but after spending last season on injured reserve after a shoulder injury, we’d expect him to be extremely eager to get back on the field and compete. He could likely be had for nothing more than a fifth-round pick.
Davis Mills
Given a chance to showcase his skill set when C.J. Stroud missed three games due to injury, Mills led the Houston Texans to three inspiring wins. Some even wondered if the 27-year-old former third-round pick should replace Stroud when the Texans’ franchise QB struggled. Due to how much he helped the Texans last season, Houston may be hesitant to part with him. Yet, considering Mills is headed into the final year of his contract, a trade wouldn’t cost anything more than a Day 3 pick.
J.J. McCarthy
The Vikings will never admit it, but they may be ready to move on from J.J. McCarthy, the 10th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Otherwise, the Vikings wouldn’t have brought in such a proven player in Kyler Murray, who may now be the team’s franchise QB. McCarthy’s NFL career has gotten off to a rough start after missing his entire rookie season with a knee injury, but the former first-round pick also flashed elite leadership qualities while making some clutch plays. The question is, are the Steelers willing to put their entire season on the shoulders of a 23-year-old with 10 career starts?
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Anthony Richardson
A player who has displayed superstar potential with a rocket arm and electric athleticism, can Anthony Richardson put it all together, becoming more consistently accurate while staying healthy? He plays with such a reckless demeanor that will get the locker room fired up, but it also opens a player who’s been healthy for just 17 games in the past three seasons to more injuries. Either way, the Steelers have to be intrigued with the 23-year-old former No. 4 overall pick’s star potential, but he’d require a trade too.
Jacoby Brissett
Did Jacoby Brissett experience a career renaissance at the age of 33 last season? It’s an interesting question. While he only led the Arizona Cardinals to a 1-11 record, Brissett completed a career-high 64.9% of his passes for a career-high 3,366 yards, 23 touchdowns, and eight interceptions across 12 starts. Can that play be replicated in a new system elsewhere? After requesting a pay increase from the $4.8 million salary he’s set to make in 2026, Brissett is at odds with the Cardinals. After Arizona signed Gardner Minshew and selected Carson Beck in the third round, Brissett could potentially be available for a Day 3 draft pick in 2027.
Jameis Winston
Set to reprise his role as Jaxson Dart‘s primary backup QB in 2026, there’s a chance that Jameis Winston could be had for the right price. The former No. 1 overall pick has shown that he’s an excellent fit in any locker room, but he’s also plenty capable too. Now 32, not only has Winston matured, he still has one of the strongest arms in the NFL, which would play well outdoors in Pittsburgh.
Mac Jones
The former first-round pick quickly wore out his welcome in New England, but Mac Jones has turned around his career since getting a chance to play for Kyle Shanahan and the San Francisco 49ers. He was a key component in helping the 49ers return to the playoffs, thanks to leading them to a 5-3 record, completing 69.6% of his passes for 2,151 yards, 13 touchdowns, and six interceptions. If the Steelers think the soon-to-be 28-year-old’s play can be sustained, then they could find their long-term starter for something like a Day 2 selection in 2027.
Russell Wilson
Also considering retirement so he can become the latest athlete to cash in on a lucrative career in NFL broadcasting, we’d imagine Russell Wilson would much rather be a starting quarterback this year instead. However, the Steelers have already been here with Wilson. Did they only move on because they believed Rodgers was an upgrade? Was there a disagreement with coach Mike Tomlin, or did Wilson just not want to be there anymore? Still an unsigned free agent, the Steelers may not feel like they have another choice, and barring a trade, Wilson is the best player available.
Derek Carr
Retired, Derek Carr reportedly was willing to return to the NFL this season if he could join a playoff contender. We’d argue that the Steelers fit that criteria. However, if he did unretire, he’d still be under contract with the New Orleans Saints. However, since they’re moving forward with Tyler Shough, it’s possible the Saints would simply release Carr and allow him to play football again, or perhaps even trade him for a Day 2 or a combination of Day 3 picks.
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