Nico Iamaleava’s path toward the NFL draft just took a sharp turn, and the Pittsburgh Steelers’ quarterback watch now has one fewer name to track.
According to Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports, Iamaleava suffered a season-ending injury against the Oregon Ducks this past Saturday. That news lands as a major blow for a player who already had a complicated draft case.
He carried plenty of buzz coming out of high school and arrived with real pedigree, but that has not translated into steady collegiate production. Now the injury clouds his outlook even more for the 2027 NFL Draft.
The Steelers had not zeroed in on Iamaleava yet, but they have been doing plenty of homework on quarterbacks throughout the season. That makes sense given how their depth chart could look after this year.
Aaron Rodgers and Mason Rudolph are both on expiring contracts, and Rodgers has already been open about plans to retire. Pittsburgh does have Will Howard and Drew Allar under contract, but the early scouting trail points to a team taking the position seriously.
For a while, Iamaleava could have been part of that conversation. He was never viewed as someone destined to storm into the first round or put together a Heisman-level campaign at UCLA, but there was still intrigue around what he might become. He is only 22 and brings starting experience that could have given an NFL staff something to work with.
Mike McCarthy, the Steelers head coach, could have seen that same upside.
Instead, the season-ending injury changes everything. It is now fair to wonder whether Iamaleava even enters the draft when the time comes.
He had been seen as a mid-to-late-round possibility entering the year, but that projection may have slipped further after the knee injury. Another year in college is now firmly on the table, especially if he wants to make another run in the NCAA after missing most of this season.
Iamaleava’s best college stretch came at Tennessee. As a freshman, he appeared in five games. In Year 2, once he took over as the Volunteers’ full-time starter, the production followed: 2,616 passing yards, 358 rushing yards, 22 total touchdowns, and only five interceptions.
After that, though, things moved in the wrong direction once he entered the transfer portal.
He expected a huge NIL payday, but that did not materialize. From there, his momentum stalled, even with the hope that UCLA could give him a fresh start this season.
The Bruins got off to a solid beginning, but Iamaleava was not producing enough to dramatically boost his draft stock. With this injury now added to the mix, staying in college and rebuilding his value may be the smarter move.
In Other News...
Steelers May Have Found A Timely Answer On The Defensive Line
Gabriel Rubios first regular-season appearance for the Steelers came in Week 5 against the Colts, and it arrived at a time when Pittsburgh needed some help inside. The rookie defensive tackle was pressed into action in a limited role, but he looked steady enough against the run to give the defense another useful body in the rotation.
Rubios work came in specific game situations, which makes the sample size small, but the impact was clear enough to notice. When he was on the field, Indianapolis had little room to operate on the ground, and Pittsburghs front continued to hold up well in a game where every snap in the trenches mattered. [Read more 🡒]
Former Steelers Favorite JuJu Smith-Schuster May Not Be Waiting Long
JuJu Smith-Schuster is still working his way back into the league picture, and the wide receiver-needy Minnesota Vikings are giving him a look as they sort through options for depth. Smith-Schuster, a former Steelers favorite, is among the players who worked out for the Vikings as the team tries to navigate injuries at the position and keep enough proven help around the lineup.
The timing is notable for Smith-Schuster, who was released by the Giants in August after signing there in June and spent the 2025 season with the Chiefs. Minnesota has already added Odell Beckham Jr., and coach Kevin O'Connell has been discussing the state of the receiver room, which suggests the team may not be done searching for answers just yet. [Read more 🡒]
Derrick Henry Has Opponents Talking About Him In A Very Strange Way
Mike Tomlin found himself in a familiar place Sunday night, trying to speak about Derrick Henry in the kind of tone usually reserved for stars who force opponents to adjust everything. On the NBC broadcast, Tomlin sidestepped Henrys name and referred to him as The Big Runner, a small but telling nod to the kind of presence Henry brings to a game and the respect he has earned from one of the leagues toughest coaches.
Tomlin has had plenty of reasons to appreciate Henry from the wrong side of the matchup, even with his teams owning a winning record against him. Henry has still done damage against Pittsburgh over the years, and the Steelers know the challenge that comes with trying to bottle up a runner who can change the feel of a game on a single drive. [Read more 🡒]