NFL draft analyst Lance Zierlein forecasted that the 2026 NFL draft could see fewer than four quarterbacks selected in the top 100 picks, echoing the 2013 draft. He shared this view in a tweet on April 4. The prediction comes amid speculation about the Pittsburgh Steelers' quarterback needs.
Lance Zierlein, an analyst for NFL.com, tweeted on Saturday that the 2026 quarterback class might produce historically few early selections. “You have to go back to 2013 to find a draft where fewer than at least four quarterbacks were taken inside the top 100 picks,” he wrote. “I feel like we see that happen again in the 2026 draft.” The Steelers hold five picks in the top 100: 21st, 53rd, 76th, 85th, and 99th overall. They face uncertainty at quarterback amid an ongoing saga involving Aaron Rodgers, with no clear starter on the roster. Indiana's Fernando Mendoza stands as the presumptive top overall pick, while Alabama's Ty Simpson could land in the first two rounds. Other prospects include Miami's Carson Beck, LSU's Garrett Nussmeier, Penn State's Drew Allar, and Arkansas's Taylen Green. Zierlein joins those viewing the class as backup-heavy after earlier hype. The Steelers' past drafts offer context. In 2022, they selected Kenny Pickett 20th overall, the first quarterback taken that year, with three others following in the top 100 but none before the third round. In 2013, Pittsburgh picked Landry Jones at 115th; he became a backup.
