PITTSBURGH - The Steelers already have four quarterbacks on the roster heading into the 2026 season, a clear sign they’re placing real value on the two youngest passers in the room.
Even so, Pittsburgh is paying attention to the next wave of college quarterbacks, and Mississippi State sophomore Kamario Taylor is the kind of name that belongs on that list.
Taylor opened the season in emphatic fashion as Mississippi State rolled past Louisiana-Monroe, 62-13. He didn’t need the full game to make his point. Taylor went 22-of-34 for 354 yards, threw four touchdowns and added another score on the ground while rushing eight times for 59 yards.
The numbers were loud, but the tape was even louder. The Macon native, listed at 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds, showed off the kind of arm strength NFL teams always notice.
He connected on a 70-yard pass and consistently drove the ball with the kind of velocity that stands out immediately. At the same time, he mixed in touch and accuracy, including a red-zone touchdown pass with plenty of loft.
Taylor also gave a full demonstration of his athleticism. Mississippi State used play-action and rollouts to get him moving, and he looked comfortable throwing on the run. The ball still came out with speed, even when he was on the move.
Then there was the part that really makes a quarterback frustrating to defend: his ability to escape chaos. On one play, the pocket collapsed and the Warhawks had him surrounded, but Taylor slipped multiple tackles, got free and still picked up the first down.
It was the kind of debut that gets people talking, and Taylor has clearly put himself on the radar.
That said, the Steelers and everyone else around the league may have to be patient. Taylor is only 19 and won’t turn 20 until February of 2027.
He’s also still in just his second college season, which makes his timeline a real factor. With more eligibility ahead and NIL money becoming increasingly important, there’s every reason to think he could stay in school longer.
For now, though, Taylor has made a strong first impression in 2026. He may not be a 2027 NFL Draft name just yet, but he’s definitely the kind of quarterback Pittsburgh should keep watching.
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Mike Tomlins offense may have to lean more on less experienced receivers and other pieces around the passing game if Metcalf and Pittman are not fully ready. That creates a different kind of Week 1 question for the Steelers, one with implications beyond a single game: whether the group can function well enough early on to keep the offense on schedule while its top names catch up on the work they lost in camp. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Face A Week 1 Problem They Werent Supposed To Have
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For Pittsburgh, the issue is less about which name is eventually announced than the preparation problem that comes with not knowing. The Falcons are the only team in the league without a starter set entering the regular season, which leaves the Steelers waiting on a key detail that should have been settled long before opening weekend. That kind of uncertainty can change how a defense studies film, plans its pressures and spends the final days before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Just Got A Familiar WR Safety Net Before Week 1
The Giants decision to release Darius Slayton right before the season opener immediately puts a familiar name back on the market for teams still looking for receiver help. For the Steelers, it is the kind of roster twist worth watching, since they have kicked the tires on Slayton before and remain in the kind of spot where added depth at wide receiver never hurts.
Slayton brings a long track record of NFL production, with 296 catches, 4,435 yards and 22 touchdowns across 106 games. Whether Pittsburgh turns that past interest into a real pursuit now is the open question, but a veteran pass catcher with that kind of experience suddenly available always has a way of drawing attention this close to Week 1. [Read more 🡒]