The 2027 NFL Draft is shaping up to be a quarterback-rich affair, and the Pittsburgh Steelers could be in the market for another signal-caller. Even after drafting Drew Allar in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft, the Steelers might still need to consider their options in the upcoming year's draft. The Athletic's Nick Baumgardner has broken down the talent into tiers, and it's clear that the class is stacked at the most important position in football.
Baumgardner's top-tier quarterbacks include Arch Manning, Dante Moore, Drew Mestemaker, CJ Carr, Julian Sayin, and Jayden Maiava. These players are projected to be first-round picks, and it's no surprise that they are considered the cream of the crop. However, it's important to remember that just because a player is listed here doesn't mean they will declare. Moore, for example, surprised many by returning to Oregon this year despite being projected as the No. 2 pick in the draft.
One player who could fall further than expected is Texas Tech QB Brendan Sorsby. Sorsby was a projected first-round pick until an investigation into his gambling commenced. While he did get an injunction allowing him to play this season, he'll need to put together a strong season on the field to stay in first-round consideration. Baumgardner has placed Sorsby in Tier 2, a tier of his own.
Tier 3 consists of LSU's Sam Leavitt, Miami's Darian Mensah, Ole Miss' Trinidad Chambliss, and South Carolina's LaNorris Sellers. These players had first-round buzz prior to the 2025 season, but uneven performances led to them returning to school. However, the fact that they are in Tier 3 shows the strength of this quarterback class.
The Steelers might not be drafting in the top half of the first round, which limits their opportunities to potentially grab a true game-changer at quarterback. However, with 11 players within the top three tiers and the third tier being full of players with first-round talent, it's still possible for the Steelers to draft a first-round quarterback. In an ideal world, Allar and/or Will Howard would develop enough to the point that the Steelers don't need to take another shot at a quarterback. But in a talent-rich class, it's a real possibility.
What makes this particularly fascinating is the potential for a quarterback-rich draft. The Steelers could have multiple options to choose from, and it's worth noting just how many potential options the team has. From my perspective, the 2027 NFL Draft could be a game-changer for the Steelers, and it will be interesting to see how the team approaches the draft and whether they will take a chance on a quarterback in the first round.
