Pittsburgh Steelers' Potential QB For The 2026 Season Will Make Fans Frustrated As Horrendous Trend Could Continue
The Pittsburgh Steelers have been stuck in quarterback purgatory ever since Ben Roethlisberger decided to retire after the 2021 season. The organization has already tried drafting a QB in the first round of the NFL Draft, and ever since that did not work out, signing veteran quarterbacks has been the solution. In 2024, it was Russell Wilson, and in 2025, it has been Aaron Rodgers. Both players had good moments with the Steelers and Rodgers has played well for the most part, but much of the fan base is tired of the Band-Aid fix at the position. Fans want to see a franchise signal-caller again, and the best way to get one is in the draft.
There is a chance that Rodgers could be back for the 2026 season, but he is only on a one-year deal currently and retirement seems like a real possibility for the four-time league MVP. That could leave Pittsburgh starting a different quarterback in Week 1 for the fifth straight season, and the only question is who that quarterback will be.
ESPN analyst Bill Barnwell discussed the 2026 quarterback carousel in a recent article, and he gave some options for the Steelers to consider for the 2026 season.
"Will there be a veteran who represents a significant upgrade available via trade or in free agency?" Barnwell asked. "Unless the Steelers feel strongly about [Kyler] Murray (and the Cardinals do decide to move on from him), the answer is probably not, which could mean another go-round with Rodgers if he wants to keep playing. The alternatives might be someone such as Kirk Cousins or Joe Flacco, who profile as higher-variance versions of Rodgers."
Barnwell wondered if there is a clear upgrade over Rodgers that will be available in free agency or via trade, and the only name he brought up was Kyler Murray. There is no certainty that Murray is an upgrade over Rodgers. He has struggled immensely over the last couple seasons, and his soft-benching in 2025 shouldn't inspire any franchise to pursue him as a starter.
Murray should not be an option for Pittsburgh, especially because of his current contract. The only world he should be considered if he is released in a similar fashion to the way Wilson was from the Denver Broncos, and Pittsburgh could then sign Murray for cheap. Other options mentioned by Barnwell included Joe Flacco and Kirk Cousins, or another year of Rodgers.
While Flacco, Cousins, and Rodgers could win some games for Pittsburgh, the fan base wants more than just winning games. The franchise needs to take a step forward, and that means doing some sort of a rebuild during the 2026 offseason. Many fans want the team to take a swing on a quarterback early on in the 2026 NFL Draft, or decide to start Will Howard and give him a chance for a season. Pittsburgh has shown time and time again that it will not be a contender regardless of how many desperation moves are made. The quarterback situation needs to be solved first and foremost, and that won't happen by bringing in another past-their-prime veteran at the position.
Steelers Should View Will Howard As A Legitimate Starting Option In 2026
Pittsburgh drafted Howard in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, but he suffered an injury during training camp and never got to see the field during the preseason. He was finally activated off of Injured Reserve during Week 11, and hopefully the coaching staff sees some good development during practice. The rookie quarterback has the build of a starter, and he also has enough mobility to get around at the NFL level.
Howard should be given a shot to start at some point, and he should certainly be considered for the 2026 season. Pundits say it is better to get a young guy in at the position, then go with an aging veteran for the third straight season.
Maxx Crosby Offers Clear Words After Raiders Lose to Cowboys
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(Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images)
The Las Vegas Raiders dropped their fourth straight game, falling 33-16 to the Dallas Cowboys on November 17 at Allegiant Stadium, deepening the challenges of their 2025 NFL season.
Offense remains a significant concern for the Raiders, who have scored more than 20 points just once in their last four games. Their only touchdown against Dallas came late in the fourth quarter, as most of their promising drives stalled and resulted in field goals.
While the Las Vegas offense continues to struggle, the Raiders’ defense also fell short against the Cowboys. Dallas’ 21-point burst in the second quarter proved decisive, as the Cowboys managed just 12 points across the other three quarters.
After the loss to the Cowboys, Raiders star Maxx Crosby spoke about the struggles that he and his team have continued to face, which have plagued them throughout the season, contributing to their 2-8 record.
“We just aren’t good enough right now,” Crosby told reporters. “You know what I mean? There [are] a lot of issues, and we’ve got to find ways to get better, find solutions instead of just doing the same thing and expecting a different result. We’ve got to find ways to improve, and it takes everybody.
“It’s not about pointing a finger at anyone. I point at myself first. I look at myself to find ways to improve every day, and it’s got to be everybody in the building. We’ve got to find solutions. That’s it.”
The Raiders Offense Continues to Struggle
Although the Raiders’ defense didn’t play well in this game, the unit has performed well at times. However, the offensive unit struggles to find the end zone. Amid the offensive issues during the losing streak, Brock Bowers was asked how the offense can snap out of its funk.
“[When] we get a first down, we just [need to] keep rolling, and we need to stay on track, not get ourselves backed up with penalties or negative plays,” Bowers said after the loss
“We just have to stay together and keep fighting; we have players here who play good football, and sometimes it doesn’t feel reflected on the field. We just need to stick together and keep going.”
Raiders Get Blunt Message From Insider
When the Raiders selected Ashton Jeanty sixth overall in this year’s NFL Draft, fans anticipated a more prominent role for the rookie than what has unfolded so far.
After another puzzling play-calling sequence that saw Jeanty rush six times for just seven yards, Ryan McFadden of ESPN didn’t hold back in his critique of Las Vegas. At the same time, he tried to make sense of why the team took this approach against Dallas.
“Ashton Jeanty’s second carry of the night resulted in an 11-yard gain at the 13:29 mark of the second quarter,” McFadden wrote. “The rookie running back didn’t receive another handoff until the start of the third quarter. Jeanty had two carries in the first half and finished with six attempts for seven yards.
“The Raiders played from behind for the majority of the night, but their decision to abandon the run so early was questionable. That has been an issue for the majority of the season. At the same time, it might have been a sign of the Raiders’ lack of confidence in their banged-up offensive line.”
