Drew Mestemaker had a chance to make a loud early statement at Oklahoma State. Instead, his first start there gave the Steelers plenty to think about for all the wrong reasons.
The quarterback, who built a productive run at North Texas as a walk-on before following head coach Eric Morris to Oklahoma State, had been drawing real buzz as a possible 2027 NFL Draft riser. With the 2027 quarterback class already looking crowded with names like Arch Manning, Dante Moore, Julian Sayin, and others, Mestemaker had worked his way into the conversation as a potential first-round type. For a team like Pittsburgh, that kind of development matters.
The Steelers may be looking hard at the position soon enough, especially if Aaron Rodgers retires after this season. They have been linked to quarterbacks in plenty of mock drafts, and Mestemaker had been one of the more intriguing possibilities. But Week 1 did him no favors.
Against Tulsa, a lower-tier opponent, Mestemaker turned in a rough debut that could easily send his stock sliding. He completed 29 of 49 passes for 241 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. It was the kind of outing that leaves scouts with more questions than answers, especially for a player trying to prove he can handle a bigger stage.
That’s the part Pittsburgh has to be watching closely. The Steelers have spent too long cycling through veterans like Russell Wilson and Aaron Rodgers, and the search for a real long-term answer has dragged on. If they don’t view Drew Allar or Will Howard as the solution, the draft may be their best path forward.
Mestemaker still has time to change the story. The season is young, and one bad start does not lock in a final judgment. But after a debut like that, the early glow around his name has dimmed fast.
In Other News...
Steelers Suddenly Face A Mason Rudolph Decision They Didn't Expect
Sam Darnolds hip injury in the season opener quickly turned Seattles quarterback plan into something else, and Drew Locks relief appearance only sharpened the attention around what the Seahawks might do next. For Pittsburgh, the ripple effect is hard to ignore. The Steelers already have four quarterbacks on their roster, but they are also reportedly open to moving Mason Rudolph, which puts them in the middle of a quarterback conversation they did not necessarily expect to have this early.
Seattles need for a veteran option could give Pittsburgh a path to act if the right deal develops, especially with the Seahawks now weighing their depth after Darnold went down. For the Steelers, the question is no longer just about roster math. It is whether Rudolph has enough value to become part of a move that could reshape the position group, while the club keeps evaluating how all of its quarterback options fit together. [Read more 🡒]
Cam Heyward Just Put The Steelers In A Bigger NFL Debate
Cameron Heyward added his voice to one of the NFLs most familiar labor flashpoints this week, taking aim at the leagues franchise tag system and calling it stupid. As a member of the NFLPA executive committee, the veteran Steelers defensive lineman framed the issue in terms players know well: teams using a built-in tool to hold leverage, limit movement and cut into earning potential when a player reaches the point where he should have more say in his future.
For Pittsburgh, it is another reminder that Heywards influence stretches well beyond the line of scrimmage. The franchise tag has long been one of the leagues most contentious roster tools, with different versions available to clubs depending on the situation, and the debate usually comes back to the same tension between team control and player freedom. Heyward did not try to soften that argument, putting the Steelers squarely in a bigger NFL conversation that is likely to keep resurfacing whenever top players approach the open market. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Opener Suddenly Comes With A Big Tua Concern
The Steelers season opener already carried the usual September uncertainty, and now it has a little more of it attached to the quarterback across the field. During a recent Falcons practice, Tua Tagovailoa briefly touched his back and sat down during individual drills, then stayed on the field but did not throw again during the portion open to reporters. Atlanta has not offered an official update, which leaves the situation a talking point as kickoff approaches.
For Pittsburgh, the wrinkle matters because the Falcons have already announced Tagovailoa as their starter for the opener, with Cooper Rush behind him if anything changes. Whether the back issue is a passing concern or something more meaningful is still unknown, and the Steelers will be watching closely because any shift at quarterback changes the feel of a game this early in the year. [Read more 🡒]