Andrew Buller-Russ
Who’s the oldest starting quarterback in the NFL? Who’s the oldest quarterback in the NFL? The answers are both the same: Aaron Rodgers of the Pittsburgh Steelers, at 42 years old.
But he’s back, set to play a 22nd NFL season, one where he’ll turn 43 before the Steelers’ campaign ends. Rodgers is already the seventh-oldest quarterback to ever start a game in NFL history. That won’t change, unless he surprisingly suits up in 2027 too, but Rodgers has already indicated that 2026 will be his final ride.
Still, eventually, the Steelers need to come up with a plan for the future. They can’t keep going year to year, signing some of the oldest veterans available as a one-year stopgap, as they did with Russell Wilson and Rodgers. Kenny Pickett wasn’t the solution as a first-round pick.
They did invest a third-round pick in Penn State’s Drew Allar in April, but some believe that the Steelers might not be done adding at the position. Especially if someone truly unique suddenly becomes available.
One option that previously wasn’t available is former Cincinnati/Texas Tech QB, Brendan Sorsby. His NCAA eligibility was denied after Sorsby placed thousands of bets on a variety of sports. His team of lawyers is appealing the decision, but as of now, it looks like Sorsby will be eligible for the NFL’s supplemental draft, set to take place in July.
Some, like ESPN’s Pete Thamel, have called Sorsby “one of the top five quarterback prospects as of right now.” Thamel reports that Sorsby has a “robust market” in the NFL.
Sports Illustrated‘s Albert Breer took things a step further, indicating that the Steelers “could take a swing” on Sorsby in the supplemental draft.
“This is only getting more interesting, especially with a number of teams that didn’t spend top-50 picks on quarterbacks in April having their eyes on the 2027 class, and a few, like the Steelers and Colts, still could take a swing here.”
SI’s Albert Breer on Brendan Sorsby
The Steelers also have veteran Mason Rudolph as the backup to Rodgers, but the 30-year-old is what he is at this point. Pittsburgh isn’t wielding a future starter with Rudolph. Meanwhile, they also have 2025 sixth-round pick Will Howard, whom coach Mike McCarthy appears to be a big fan of.
Sorsby is being viewed as a likely Day 2 selection, meaning Pittsburgh would be surrendering either their second or third-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft for the right to add Sorsby to their roster in time for the 2026 season.
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