With no talks between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Aaron Rodgers this offseason, the team would benefit from a Steelers Arch Manning tank campaign in 2026. Without Rodgers in the picture, second-year QB Will Howard will be taking first-team reps in minicamp, setting the stage for an underwhelming season. The defense is aging, there are deficiencies all over the roster, and Mike McCarthy will have to elevate the franchise during his first season in Pittsburgh, something he hasn’t done in his NFL coaching career. The Steelers would be better served using the draft to shore up team needs and let Howard sink or swim in 2026.
How The Steelers’ Arch Manning Tank Campaign Plays Out
Pittsburgh has been high on Howard since the organization drafted the National Champion signal-caller from Ohio State last season. He had the size and experience that teams covet and generally makes good decisions with the football. The knocks on Howard coming out of college were the lack of elite arm talent and a tendency to stare down receivers. The Steelers must not be in love with the idea of him being a Week One starter if they’re still waiting on Rodgers to make a decision on his future in the NFL.
With the constant instability at the quarterback position that has plagued the Steelers since Ben Roethlisberger’s retirement, the franchise needs a passer to build its future around. Manning is that QB, as NFL scouts believe that he would be the first pick taken in this year’s draft if he came out. He had some ups and downs as a first-year starter in the SEC in 2025, but he showed a lot of the things that NFL teams want in a signal-caller. Manning has a quick release, is accurate, and has the ability to escape out of the pocket. The flaws he does have are correctable, as his footwork isn’t consistent and he tends to hold on to the ball too long. He’ll be highly sought after in the 2027 draft, with many QB-needy teams ready to sell the farm for the chance to pick him.
By taking Howard in last year’s draft, it wouldn’t make sense for the Steelers to invest a high-round pick in another quarterback, especially when the QB class is as weak as it is this year. Pittsburgh has more pressing needs to address in 2026. Joey Porter Jr., Keeanu Benton, Nick Herbig, and Patrick Queen are all free agents in 2027, meaning this year could be a defense-heavy draft for the franchise. Cameron Heyward is in the twilight of his career, and TJ Watt’s impending drop-off in production feels imminent with all the injuries he’s sustained in his career. Offensively, the Steelers need a legitimate #3 receiver to pair with DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr, and improvements at tackle (since Broderick Jones has looked like a bust so far).
Pittsburgh needs to address these roster issues this year in the draft (they’re expected to reload in a big way) and give the opportunity for Howard to prove himself. If he can master the mental part of the game, he can be a competent starter in the league. If he can’t, this opens the door for the Steelers to secure their franchise QB in Manning next year. The organization has been in dire need of a rebuild since the implosion of the Killer B’s (Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown, and Le’Veon Bell) in the late 2010’s, the last time Pittsburgh was actually a Super Bowl threat. A legacy passer could be the catalyst for the next Steeler dynasty.
