The 2027 quarterback conversation has gone from dream scenario to warning label, and the Pittsburgh Steelers are the team feeling the ripple effect. What had been talked up as a loaded class is now looking thinner by the week, with several of the biggest names failing to hold their draft buzz.
That matters because Pittsburgh is clearly looking ahead to another swing at the quarterback spot. The problem is simple: it’s no longer safe to assume the 2027 pool will hand them an easy answer.
Arch Manning has become the clearest example of the slide. The Texas quarterback has not come close to the lofty draft projection attached to him, and he is now on the verge of being benched.
If he were to leave after this season, he would fall short of the first overall pick hype and might not even land inside the first round. At this point, the more realistic path may be staying in college until he can sort things out.
Dante Moore’s case is a little different. It’s hard to call him a bust when a concussion has been part of his season, but the injury has still played a role in what has been a down year for Oregon.
The Steelers could still have interest in him in the spring, and the sense around him remains that he has shown enough to be in the mix. It would just help a lot if he gets back on the field and strings together stronger performances.
The middle tier of this class hasn’t exactly steadied the ship either. CJ Carr remains a possible first-round name, but Notre Dame has not gotten the kind of play it expected from him.
He was supposed to help drive a National Championship run, yet he hasn’t elevated his game to that level. There’s talent there, but he is still very much a work in progress.
Julian Sayin took another hit when he suffered a shoulder injury this past weekend. Before that, his draft case was already wobbling.
Ohio State hasn’t looked right this season, and Sayin hasn’t shown the kind of play that gets NFL scouts buzzing. The injury could push him back to the Buckeyes next year, which would only delay whatever momentum he might still build.
There have been some brighter spots, though not nearly enough to salvage the overall picture. Trinidad Chambliss, Drew Mestemaker, and Darian Mensah have all played well and remain among the quarterbacks living up to the billing. Oregon’s Dante Moore could fit in that group too if he gets healthy and gets back to form.
Even the names that once carried more excitement are under pressure now. Sam Leavitt was never viewed as a true top prospect, but he was on plenty of scouts’ radars heading into the season. Instead, LSU’s struggles have gone hand in hand with Leavitt not meeting expectations, especially as he adjusts to tougher competition.
Jayden Maiava hasn’t been the biggest disappointment in the group, but he also hasn’t taken the leap many expected. The USC fifth-year senior has put up decent numbers, yet he hasn’t delivered the kind of signature performance against elite opponents that would lock him into first-round talk. He could still work his way there, but nothing about his season makes that feel certain.
Then there’s LaNorris Sellers, another quarterback who may be better served by staying in school. His athletic profile jumps off the page, both as a passer and a runner, but his technique is still rough. The upside is obvious enough to imagine a Cam Newton type of player down the line, but only if he keeps developing at the NCAA level before making the jump.
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Steelers Backfield Suddenly Puts More On Jaylen Warren In Paris
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The bigger offensive wrinkle is in the backfield, where Rico Dowdle is listed as questionable because of a knee injury after already missing time with a toe issue. If he cannot go or is only part of the plan, the burden figures to land on Jaylen Warren, who would be asked to handle a much larger share of the work than usual in a game that could demand a lot from Pittsburghs run game. [Read more 🡒]