The Pittsburgh Steelers are already keeping one eye on the 2027 quarterback class, and through the first month of the NCAA season, a few names are starting to separate themselves.
That matters in Pittsburgh, where the search for the next starter after Aaron Rodgers is still very much alive. The Steelers added Drew Allar in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft and still have second-year QB Will Howard on the roster, but that hasn’t changed the bigger picture. They remain a team to watch when the quarterback market heats up again.
At the moment, the 2027 class is beginning to take shape, and the board is getting clearer by the week. A handful of passers have pushed themselves toward the top of the conversation, and they should be squarely on the Steelers’ radar.
CJ Carr has helped Notre Dame jump to a 5-0 start while operating as a steady, efficient game-manager. The Fighting Irish have leaned back into a run-first identity, but Carr has still made plenty of noise. Over five games, he has thrown 13 touchdowns against just one interception and has completed more than 70% of his passes.
He’s also found the end zone with regularity, tossing at least three touchdown passes in three of the first five games. Carr may not be the flashiest quarterback in the group, but he looks calm, polished, and equipped with traits that can translate at the next level.
Darian Mensah has been one of the biggest risers, and the Miami move has only amplified the buzz. The 21-year-old junior from San Luis Obispo, California has settled in quickly after transferring from Duke, and the Hurricanes are 5-0 because of it.
No quarterback has performed better through the first five games. Mensah has thrown 15 touchdowns without an interception while completing 84.2% of his passes. He’s checking just about every box NFL teams want, and the profile is hard to miss: big, athletic, a strong arm, and a clear presence as a leader.
Drew Mestemaker is another quarterback who has turned heads, and he’s been the one that has impressed the most overall. After Week 1, he’s settled in and started stacking strong performances. He has the kind of arm that fits the NFL, and he looks completely comfortable working from the pocket.
He has topped 300 passing yards in three straight games and has totaled 11 touchdown passes against five interceptions so far. At 6’3”, 215 pounds, he already looks the part of a top-10 pick.
Kamario Taylor might be the most intriguing name of the bunch, even after a loss to the University of Alabama and a pair of interceptions. He brings the full package in terms of size, speed, and arm strength, and he keeps flashing the kind of playmaking ability that can change a game in a hurry.
What stood out most in that Alabama game was how he answered after a rough start. Taylor recovered to lead several touchdown drives and finished with 258 passing yards and three touchdown passes.
It wasn’t clean, but it was a response. He’s not considered a likely entrant into the 2027 NFL Draft, but if he does go in, there won’t be any shortage of teams lining up.
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Aaron Rodgers has also shown a preference for getting Washington involved, and the timing of that could be important as Pittsburgh sorts through its game plan for Sunday. The Colts present a chance for the Steelers to lean on a part of the passing game that has been building, and Washingtons usage is one of the more interesting subplots as the team looks to turn a .500 start into something steadier. [Read more 🡒]
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Among the prospects drawing interest are Minnesota guard Greg Johnson, Notre Dame lineman Knapp and Cincinnati junior Evan Tengesdahl, each offering a different kind of appeal based on size, movement skills and recent play. The Steelers have not made any official decision, but with one key spot still unresolved, the way they approach that next draft could say plenty about how they want to build up front. [Read more 🡒]