The Pittsburgh Steelers are heading into offseason workouts with a quarterback battle brewing—but not necessarily the one you'd expect. While all eyes are on whether Aaron Rodgers will eventually sign with the team, the real competition this spring is between rookie Drew Allar and second-year QB Will Howard. The stakes? Determining who could be the Steelers' starter for 2027 and beyond.

But what if neither player steps up under new head coach Mike McCarthy? That scenario has ESPN NFL draft analyst Jordan Reid thinking ahead. In his very early 2027 mock draft, Reid has the Steelers going back to a familiar well—Oklahoma State—to select quarterback Drew Mestemaker.

It's been a rocky road for Pittsburgh since Ben Roethlisberger hung up his cleats after the 2021 season. With Aaron Rodgers expected to follow suit soon, the Steelers may be staring at their best chance to swing for a franchise quarterback in the draft.

Mestemaker's story is nothing short of remarkable. He went from a zero-star walk-on at North Texas to throwing for 4,379 yards, 34 touchdowns, and just nine interceptions last season. His fiery, three-quarters release delivers passes with serious velocity, and he thrived in a spread-and-shred offense. Now, after following head coach Eric Morris to Oklahoma State, he'll get a chance to prove himself on the Big 12 stage.

Reid notes that Mestemaker's overconfidence can be both a gift and a curse—he sometimes locks onto first reads and makes head-scratching decisions. But if he cleans that up, his ceiling is sky-high. It's early to peg him as a top prospect after just one standout season, but the raw talent is undeniable.

For Steelers fans, the Oklahoma State connection is nothing new. The last time Pittsburgh drafted a Cowboys quarterback was Mason Rudolph in the third round back in 2018. And while the 2027 quarterback class is loaded with talent on paper, we've heard that before. The big question is whether Mestemaker can turn potential into production—and if the Steelers will be ready to pounce when the time comes.