The Pittsburgh Steelers just threw down a huge signal: they had a scout in Austin, Texas, checking out Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning during the Texas vs. Florida game. This isn’t just a casual look either, Alan Saunders from Steelers Now confirmed they were there for an in-person evaluation of the No. 2 overall prospect. Clearly, the Steelers are serious about finding their future signal-caller, and they’re starting early with some big names.
Scouring The Country For The Next Franchise Guy
This Arch Manning sighting is only the tip of the iceberg for Pittsburgh’s scouting efforts. It’s clear they are leaving absolutely no stone unturned when it comes to the next generation of QBs. They also had scouts in Bloomington, Indiana, for that Big Ten clash between the defending champion Hoosiers and Ohio State. And get this, Week 6 was a whirlwind for them too. They scouted USC quarterback Jayden Maiava, currently the No. 61 overall prospect, after he led the Trojans to a road win over Penn State. Plus, they were checking out UCLA’s Nico Iamaleava, who’s ranked No. 144, but man, he suffered a season-ending injury. Talk about tough luck for him! They even saw Oregon, which is currently led by backup Dylan Raiola, who’s No. 129 on the big board. The starter there, Dante Moore, the No. 6 overall prospect, is out with a concussion, but the Steelers saw him earlier this season. They are seriously covering all their bases, huh?
Aaron Rodgers’ Looming Exit Puts Pressure On
So, why all the intense scouting? It all boils down to Aaron Rodgers being adamant that 2026 will be his final season. That’s a HUGE deal! Once he’s gone, the Steelers’ quarterback room looks pretty thin on experience. Right now, the only QBs under contract after this season are Drew Allar and Will Howard. Allar was their third-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, and Howard came in the sixth round in 2025. Neither of these guys has taken a single regular season snap. That’s a massive question mark heading into the post-Rodgers era. Allar did look decent in his first preseason action, throwing for two touchdowns and running for another. But Howard? He tossed a pair of touchdowns but also threw three interceptions in just three games. Yikes! That kind of turnover simply won’t cut it in the regular season. So yeah, it’s pretty clear why the Steelers are out there hitting up college games like crazy. They need options, and they need them fast, to find the right guy to step in when Rodgers hangs it up.
The clock is absolutely ticking for the Steelers to find their next signal-caller. With Rodgers set to move on, whoever they draft next year will have massive shoes to fill and the weight of the franchise on their shoulders. You gotta wonder who else they’re gonna check out before the draft gets here. This QB hunt is just getting started!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Behind the Steel Curtain.
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