It is a big year for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Since Ben Roethlisberger retired, the franchise hasn’t enjoyed anything resembling excellent quarterback play. Instead, Mike Tomlin’s head coaching genius has led them to consistent playoff appearances even with mediocre work from their signal-caller. Unfortunately, that weakness has reared its head in the postseason, leading to nearly a decade since the Steelers won a playoff game.
As a result, the organization was adamant about finding a proven winner this offseason. Despite the long wait, they found their guy in former Super Bowl champion Aaron Rodgers. Now, the Steelers are gearing up for a vital 2025 season that could help flip the script in Pittsburgh. But the length of Rodgers’ stay is anybody’s guess at this point. As a result, one analyst believes the franchise needs to start preparing for its future as well.
Pittsburgh Steelers Going the Green Bay Packers Route With Aaron Rodgers
Rodgers’s departure from the Green Bay Packers was inevitable. After drafting Jordan Love and letting him marinate on the sidelines, the organization made its intentions to anoint him the successor crystal clear.
Owain Jones of PFSN, in his latest mock draft for 2026, believes Pittsburgh should follow a similar route. Regardless of how long Rodgers sticks around with the Steelers, he wants the team to target a quarterback in the loaded class coming in next year.
Whether he stays, leaves, or retires, Pittsburgh would have a contingency in place in every scenario. But for a team hellbent on breaking its playoff losing streak, its offseason has shown desperation.
Beyond Rodgers, they also added proven veterans like DK Metcalf, Jalen Ramsey, and Jonnu Smith to the lineup. Jones has them as a playoff team, drafting them 19th overall in 2026. Those hopes might come to fruition.
With the selection, he believes their best choice is LaNorris Sellers out of South Carolina. One of the most physically imposing quarterbacks in the entire class, he is also one of the more inexperienced candidates.
LANORRIS SELLERS JUKED HIM AND TOOK IT 75 YARDS TO THE HOUSE pic.twitter.com/OMsweS79wk
— ESPN (@espn) September 14, 2024
Taking over the starting job for the Gamecocks last year, Sellers threw for 2,534 yards and 18 touchdowns, while adding an additional 674 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground. If he continues to improve in 2024, he could easily slot in as a first-round pick by the time the draft rolls around.
“LaNorris Sellers is loaded with physical traits and possesses the tools to be a highly sought-after pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. However, he still has some room to grow as a passer. At 6’3” and 240 pounds, the South Carolina Gamecocks quarterback is uniquely built and has all the arm talent to be a success in the NFL.”
However, the youngster isn’t without flaws. In particular, Jones has two key areas that Sellers needs to improve in to succeed as a quarterback in the NFL. Firstly, “Sellers put the ball in harm’s way far too often, consistently missed open receivers, and doesn’t always correctly read defenses pre-snap.”
Those factors need to improve for his overall football IQ and the ability to orchestrate an offense at the professional level. Additionally, “He holds the ball too long, averaging three seconds to throw, a stat that showed why he took 31 sacks in 2024.”
Those two areas are key to his development as a starting-caliber quarterback in the NFL. But if he can take jumps in both categories, the Steelers could have their successor to Rodgers and a legitimate chance of remaining competitive in the long run.
