Gerry Dulac reports that the Pittsburgh Steelers are unlikely to consider Ty Simpson due to his size not matching their preferred quarterback profile. The insider suggests the team prefers bigger passers and is focused on developing Will Howard. Other prospects like Drew Allar and Carson Beck may align better with this mold.
Gerry Dulac, in his weekly Steelers chat, stated that the Pittsburgh Steelers will not consider a quarterback until the third round of the draft. He specifically noted that Garrett Nussmeier and Ty Simpson 'do not fit the physical mold the Steelers prefer in their quarterbacks,' describing them as 'too small.' Dulac added, 'McCarthy is all-in on developing [Will] Howard, which means he likes what he sees. Simpson is not a Steelers-style QB.' This is the second time Dulac has indicated the Steelers are committed to Howard's development, with Mike McCarthy frequently mentioning him this offseason. Howard measures 6-foot-4 2/8 and 236 pounds, with a 4.33-second short shuttle at the 2025 Combine. The Steelers' ideal aligns with big-bodied pocket passers like Ben Roethlisberger, who was listed at 6-foot-4 7/8. For comparison, Nussmeier is 6-foot-2, Simpson 6-foot-1 1/8, and Aaron Rodgers 6-foot-2. McCarthy has coached similar-sized quarterbacks, including Rodgers, Brett Favre, and Dak Prescott. Prospects like Drew Allar and Carson Beck, at around 6-foot-4 6/8, could fit, with Beck recently visiting Pittsburgh pre-draft. Mike DeFabo of The Athletic echoed this, writing, 'Well, I’ll tell you first who I don’t think it will be: Ty Simpson.' He highlighted differences in evaluation between Mike Tomlin, who emphasizes mobility, and McCarthy.