Another name is off the board for quarterback-needy teams eyeing the 2026 NFL Draft - and it’s a big one. Duke’s Darian Mensah, fresh off a breakout season that turned heads across the country, announced he’s returning for another year with the Blue Devils, opting to delay his NFL dreams.
“Let’s run this back,” Mensah wrote in an Instagram post titled “The Decision.” And with that, one of the most productive passers in college football is staying put.
Mensah didn’t just have a good season - he had a statement year. After transferring from Tulane this past offseason, he lit up the ACC, leading the conference with 3,646 passing yards and guiding Duke to an ACC Championship.
His 30-to-5 touchdown-to-interception ratio was one of the cleanest in the country, and his 30 passing touchdowns ranked fifth in the FBS. That kind of efficiency, poise, and production made him a fast riser on draft boards - and a player the Pittsburgh Steelers had to be watching closely.
But with Mensah heading back to Durham, the list of top-tier quarterback prospects available in the 2026 draft pool just got a little shorter. He joins a growing group of high-profile QBs choosing to return to school, including Texas A&M’s Marcel Reed, South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers, and Texas’ Arch Manning.
Sellers, in particular, was a name the Steelers were keeping close tabs on. Pittsburgh scouts were on hand for three of his games this season, including his finale against Clemson. But with Sellers also staying in school, the Steelers’ options - at least among the top-ranked quarterbacks - are narrowing.
Right now, only three quarterbacks sit inside the top 32 on the big board: Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, Oregon’s Dante Moore, and Alabama’s Ty Simpson.
Mendoza, of course, just capped off a dream season. He led Indiana to a perfect 13-0 record, a Big Ten title, and became the first Hoosier to ever win the Heisman Trophy.
That alone would’ve made him a hot commodity, but his consistent play and leadership have all but solidified his status as a likely top-3 pick. The Steelers had scouts at multiple Indiana games this year, including during Mendoza’s time at Cal, but unless Pittsburgh is willing to make a major move up the board, Mendoza’s probably out of reach.
That leaves Moore and Simpson as the most realistic options among the top-tier quarterback prospects. Simpson, in particular, has been linked to the Steelers in recent mock drafts - including one that projected him going 20th overall to Pittsburgh. That could line up with where the Steelers are expected to pick, assuming they finish the season in the 20s.
So where does this leave Pittsburgh? Still in the hunt, still watching tape, and still needing to figure out their next move at quarterback.
Mensah’s return to Duke is a win for college football - and a reminder that the NFL Draft process is as fluid as ever. The Steelers will have to keep adjusting their board, but make no mistake: the search for their next franchise QB is very much alive.