2026 Steelers Mock Draft: Post Pro Day Edition

Man, he's huge for a safety. Looks more like a linebacker.

 

Two wild swings in the dark in the first two rounds...?

Yep, i'd seen enough.

 

My issue with Beck is his elbow. How long will it last? His arm isn't the same after surgery.

The draft is many times just luck, as I am sure you know.

I just don't have faith in taking these QBs early. Granted, every QB has flaws or areas to improve, but they don't appear to be any better than Howard. Where is the upside versus taking a BPA at another position?

If I had to rank the top QBs...

1. Mendoza
2. Beck
3. Simpson
4. Allar
5. Nussmeier

Other than Mendoza, that list can flip-flop any which way.

At 53, if you have Rodriguez and Simpson there, who do you take? I take Rodriguez every time. There are such glaring holes in this team and this is a draft filled with very good defensive players for the first 3 rounds. I want defense for the first 3 picks, but it all depends on how the draft falls.

What it comes down to, IMO, is: are any of these QB prospects better than Howard? I don't think the Steelers are looking for a QB. I feel the FO is going with Howard.

 

Nobody wants to draft D in the 1st round, they just want to b!+ch about the D cost too much. That's how you get cheaper.

 

Beck's arm wasn't anything special before, but this is true. I am much more concerned about his character than I am his arm though. Not the type of guy you want as the team's leader. I think he has a high enough floor, because there are good parts to his game, but the "stars align" scenario is Chad Pennington, and most likely his ceiling is as a low end starter or quality enough back up.

The QB's are really difficult this year to predict. They are all so different. Mendoza is accurate and a leader, but is an amalgamation of meh talents and a total guess as to whether or not he can play under center. Simpson has a wildly wide range of outcomes. His highs were high, but the lows pretty low and he doesn't have a lot of tape. Personally I believe his ceiling is high, but he's also a risk. Beck is not particularly talented and has character issues, but is a seemingly safe bet to at least make it as an NFL back up. In a perfect scenario could he be a top 30 NFL QB? Maybe, but it's a scheme fit only. Allar is trash as a player, but has elite arm talent. He will either learn to be a gunslinging pocket passer, or he will be a total flop. No inbetween in my opinion. Nussmeier is interesting as I actually think his ceiling could be a starter as his arm and play on the move is really quite good, but the size concerns and injury issues could be at play. I honestly think he's a better prospect than Beck or Allar, but again, he is likely a scheme play and could end up like Brock Purdy in the long run.

I agree with you. I think a high caliber ILB prospect over a prospect like Simpson makes sense for us... especially if we are rolling Rodgers this season. If we roll Rodgers and we draft a QB, there's a good shot Mason is getting cut and Howard and a rookie are just going to battle it out for the back up job. That's why I think the idea is to not draft a QB and assess next offseason when the QB class is better.

Prospects better than Howard in this draft are Mendoza and Simpson IMO. Neither are big enough upgrades to warrant us drafting a QB in the first IMO.

 

I agree with you here. It appears that secondary and ILB are very high on our draft list (and rightfully so). WR and OG will likely be addressed in the first few rounds too.

First round is going to be a WR or a secondary player and nothing else. OG and ILB are in play in the second and third round alongside whatever we don't draft in the first.

 

You been drinking, bro?

 

This exactly

His arm is much less after surgery

 

I'm curious about Beck's arm. Didn't he already come back from that surgery and QB Miami to the championship game by throwing the ball? Honestly, I was not a fan when he was at Georgia. I thought he looked weak there. I actually thought he looked much stronger last season than he ever did for the DAWGS.

I'm not saying you guys are wrong that his elbow won't hold up. I'm just asking what did you see that looked weaker, and what do you know about UCL repairs and being a QB? The data I find says the prognosis is extremely high.

 

What I have read says 9 months. So, between 9 months and 2 years depending on the player.