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6 hours ago
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The Pittsburgh Steelers have their starting quarterback for 2025 in Aaron Rodgers, but their future at the position remains uncertain.
The hope is that Will Howard will take the reins from Rodgers in 2026 and become the long-term solution Pittsburgh has been searching for. But expecting that from a sixth-round pick is expecting too much.
Unless Howard makes gigantic strides in his first season and proves he can be the guy in Pittsburgh, the Steelers could very well dip into the 2026 NFL draft once again for a quarterback, but this time with a much higher pick.
Ian Ritter of Stadium Rant believes the Steelers will do just that and select Cal signal-caller Fernando Mendoza with the No. 14 overall pick, a draft spot that would mean the Steelers' Rodgers experiment failed miserably.
"After recently signing Aaron Rodgers to a one-year deal, the Pittsburgh Steelers are in the market for a long-term quarterback," Ritter explained. "They’ll likely trade up or select one here.
"Francisco Mendoza threw for over 3,000 yards and 16 touchdowns in his sophomore season at Cal before transferring to Indiana. At 6’5″, he has the prototypical frame that NFL front offices look for.
"Mendoza brings some mobility and underrated athleticism to the table as well. His selection this high in the first round is predicated on a massive Big Ten season for the Hoosiers quarterback," Ritter concluded.
Mendoza enters the 2025 campaign with a head of steam after two years at Cal that saw him throw for 4,712 yards while rushing for 197 yards and scoring 34 total touchdowns.
Mendoza isn't blowing anyone away with his athleticism, but he isn't a slouch in that area, either. Where he really shines, though, is with his arm talent, which includes an impressive blend of arm strength and touch. He also has the prototypical size at 6-foot-5 and 225 pounds.
If Mendoza wants to be selected this high, he's going to have to answer the bell at Indiana in 2025. The good news is, Mendoza is in a much better situation at that program than he was at Cal.
“The way Indiana’s identified quarterbacks in the way he fits in their scheme. I’m optimistic that this kid could take a big jump this year in this offense,” NFL draft analyst Todd McShay said of Mendoza.
Should the Steelers abandon the Will Howard experiment after one season?
Well, that depends on how much Howard shows. But if there's so much as even a shadow of a doubt that the Ohio State product might not be the guy, the Steelers shouldn't hesitate to take a quarterback early in 2026.
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