Steelers Eyeing SEC QB as Potential Rodgers Successor

Pittsburgh looks to the 99th pick to find a developmental QB2 with upside

Apr. 8, 2026 at 12:08pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Pittsburgh Steelers are reportedly eyeing LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier as a potential successor to Aaron Rodgers. With Rodgers' future uncertain and the team's current QB depth chart lacking a clear long-term answer, the Steelers are considering using their 99th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft to select the 6'2" signal-caller, who has drawn comparisons to a 'pro-ready passer' despite falling from early-round projections.

Why it matters

The Steelers have lacked stability at the quarterback position since Ben Roethlisberger's retirement, and the team is under pressure to find a long-term solution, especially with the future of veteran Aaron Rodgers still up in the air. Nussmeier could provide a developmental option with upside, given his family's coaching connections to the Steelers' staff.

The details

Nussmeier, the son of former NFL quarterback and current Saints quarterbacks coach Doug Nussmeier, was once viewed as a potential first-round pick but has since fallen to the third-round range. ESPN's Ben Solak believes the Steelers would be an ideal fit, citing Nussmeier's ball security, pocket presence, and 'wily arm' as traits that could make him a 'pro-ready passer' despite his smaller stature.

  • Nussmeier was viewed as a potential first-round pick early in the 2025 college football season.
  • The Steelers selected quarterback Will Howard in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft.

The players

Garrett Nussmeier

A 6'2" quarterback out of LSU who was once considered a potential first-round pick but has since fallen to the third-round range of the 2026 NFL Draft.

Aaron Rodgers

The veteran quarterback whose future with the Steelers remains uncertain, leaving the team in need of a long-term solution at the position.

Mason Rudolph

A quarterback currently under contract with the Steelers, though he is not viewed as the team's long-term answer at the position.

Will Howard

A quarterback selected by the Steelers in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, who is also not seen as the team's future at the position.

Doug Nussmeier

Garrett Nussmeier's father, who has coaching connections to the Steelers' staff, having worked with Mike McCarthy and Kellen Moore in the past.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“The connection between the Steelers and Nussmeier is obvious. When Mike McCarthy was the head coach in Dallas, Nussmeier's father, Doug, was his quarterbacks coach. Doug Nussmeier has stayed in the coaching tree, too, following Kellen Moore to the Chargers, then the Eagles and then the Saints. In that the Steelers need a developmental QB2 with more legs than 2025 sixth-rounder Will Howard, Garrett Nussmeier would be an option no matter what. The family connection only helps.”

— Ben Solak, ESPN Analyst

“Nussmeier isn't the biggest quarterback, which can be a concern for AFC North play in the uncovered Acrisure Stadium. He's 6-foot-2 with 9⅛-inch hands. But over 1,804 career snaps at LSU, Nussmeier had only seven fumbles, which is a testament to his ball security. Nussmeier is a strong pocket navigator who can buy an extra half-second while setting up to throw, and he has a wily arm that layers the ball well in intermediate windows. He has a lot of polish on his game and should be called a pro-ready passer for his post-snap acumen.”

— Ben Solak, ESPN Analyst

What’s next

The Steelers will have to decide if Nussmeier is the right developmental quarterback to target with their 99th overall pick, especially if Aaron Rodgers decides to return for another season in Pittsburgh.

The takeaway

The Steelers' search for a long-term answer at quarterback continues, and Garrett Nussmeier could provide an intriguing option with his pro-ready skills and family connections to the coaching staff. However, the team will need to weigh his smaller stature against the physical demands of the AFC North as they evaluate their options in the 2026 NFL Draft.