The Steelers are a long way from the end of their quarterback search, but they may finally be in a better place to handle it.
That’s the quiet takeaway as Pittsburgh moves into a new era under a new head coach, with two young quarterbacks on the roster and a plan that looks a lot more patient than the one that led them to Kenny Pickett. Five years after Ben Roethlisberger retired, the franchise is still hunting for its next long-term answer. The difference now is that the Steelers seem willing to let that process breathe.
Pickett, of course, was the first swing. The former first-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft was supposed to be the bridge to whatever came next, but he lasted only two seasons in Pittsburgh before being traded to the Philadelphia Eagles. Since then, he’s bounced to the Cleveland Browns, the Las Vegas Raiders and now the Carolina Panthers.
And if the Steelers needed a reminder of how far they’ve moved on, Pickett delivered one during his first training camp practice with Carolina. Reports said his first 11-on-11 series ended with two sacks and a fumble after he tripped.
Kenny Pickett 11v11 series: SackTrips and fumbles ball, picks it back up, but would’ve been sackSack
Pickett is expected to back up in Carolina, and he still hasn’t reclaimed a starting job since leaving Pittsburgh. The former Pitt star requested a trade after the Steelers signed Russell Wilson, then spent one season in Philadelphia before asking out there as well. He was dealt to the Browns and then moved again to the Raiders later in the offseason.
There’s no pretending Pittsburgh’s handling of Pickett was perfect. Matt Canada, one of the Steelers’ worst offensive coordinators, didn’t exactly make life easier.
But the bigger point is that the organization appears to have learned from the experience. Instead of forcing the next quarterback into place, the Steelers are taking a slower, more deliberate approach.
Howard looks like the current favorite to be the next man up after Aaron Rodgers retires. Mike McCarthy has praised Howard all offseason, and if Howard wins the backup job behind Rodgers this year, that would likely give him the edge in the competition for the starting role next offseason.
Drew Allar is also going to get a chance to show what he can do. The 2026 third-round pick is being developed through the McCarthy quarterback school, with the goal of turning his physical tools into real progression and upside.
And if neither Howard nor Allar becomes the answer, the Steelers still seem ready to take another early-round quarterback and keep building the right way. After what they view as a rushed call the last time around, they’re being patient now. That alone is a sign they’re in a better spot.
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Steelers Forgot About Cole Holcomb At The Worst Possible Time
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The bigger question now is how that translates once the Steelers start sorting out their linebacker rotation for 2026. Patrick Queen and Payton Wilson are still part of the conversation, but Holcombs play last season gave him a real case for more snaps if the new scheme rewards reliability and physicality. He may not need a dramatic leap to matter, just a clearer path and a staff willing to lean into what he already does well. [Read more 🡒]