ESPN Projects Steelers to Replace Aaron Rodgers With This QB in 2027

No matter how many times it feels like Aaron Rodgers annoys the Pittsburgh Steelers organization, they always feel like they come back to the 42-year-old future Hall of Fame quarterback.

The Steelers reportedly gave Rodgers a date around the 2026 NFL Draft to decide whether he wants to retire or return to Pittsburgh for another season as the team’s starting QB.

Rodgers ghosted.

After the NFL Draft came and went, with the Steelers drafting another young QB in Penn State’s Drew Allar, Pittsburgh made another public statement, saying that, though they thought Rodgers would have decided by now, they expect his decision in the coming weeks.

Regardless of whether Rodgers re-signs with the Steelers for another year or declines and retires to the Brazilian jungles, the franchise needs to find its next franchise QB.

Since Ben Roethlisberger retired a half-decade ago, it’s been a hunt for the next heir to his departed throne.

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And though they have Allar and former College Football Playoff national champion signal-caller Will Howard from Ohio State, ESPN believes that the Steelers might truly find their cornerstone QB in 2027 at the draft.

“[Drew] Mestemaker is an incredible story, going from a zero-star walk-on at North Texas to throwing for 4,379 passing yards and 34 touchdowns with nine interceptions last season,” wrote Jordan Reid in a 2027 NFL Mock Draft. “He uses a fiery, three-quarters release, and his passes rarely lack velocity. He excelled in a spread-and-shred scheme and followed coach Eric Morris to Oklahoma State. His overconfidence is a gift and a curse, as he can get fixated on first reads and make head-scratching decisions. Cleaning that up on the Big 12 stage could make him a first-rounder next spring.”

Mestemaker might be one of the best pure throwers of a football in the past decade, and if he transitions well from North Texas to Oklahoma State, he could be a franchise-defining selection by the Steelers.

But first, they have to wait on Aaron Rodgers’ decision.

Hopefully for the last time, but with the Steelers and Rodgers, you never know.

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This story was originally published April 30, 2026 at 6:24 PM.