The NFL Draft is set to kick off on Thursday night from the city of Pittsburgh, which means there is going to be plenty of intrigue around the hometown Pittsburgh Steelers. Possessing the 21st overall pick, Steelers GM Omar Khan and Co. have several paths they could take to fill some of their needs.

With future first-ballot Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers unsigned, could the team draft a quarterback in the first round? Pennsylvania native and legendary rock musician Bret Michaels is hoping that is exactly the case. In fact, he thinks the Steelers should try to select perhaps the best quarterback in the draft if he is still available.

Fernando Mendoza to the Pittsburgh Steelers?

GettyQB Fernando Mendoza led Indiana to its first-ever national title this past season.

Here is what Bret Michaels had to say via The Rich Eisen Show on Thursday about his hopes for Pittsburgh’s 21st overall pick:

“I’m working with Fernando (Mendoza) right now…I said, ‘There’s a lot of money over here if you go No. 1 with the Raiders.’ I said, ‘Don’t you want to be a Steelers?”

If Mendoza were to somehow fall all the way down to pick No. 21, it would be perhaps the most shocking draft slide in NFL history. The Heisman Trophy winner led the country in touchdown passes in 2025 with 41 en route to guiding the Hoosiers to a national title. It would be stunning if Las Vegas didn’t make the move to select him with the top pick, so Michaels may have to turn his focus to another possible prospect.

Omar Khan Doesn’t Need to Draft a QB Right Away

GettyIf he returns to play for the Steelers in 2026, QB Aaron Rodgers would be entering his 22nd career NFL season.

When all is said and done, the best option for the Steelers is for Rodgers to return at quarterback for at least one more run. Perhaps Pittsburgh already knows he is coming back behind the scenes, too. If that is the case, the Steelers shouldn’t consider drafting a quarterback until the late rounds.

Remember, if Rodgers is coming back, that means they have a quarterback for the present who can help this team win games at a high level in Rodgers, a veteran backup in Mason Rudolph, and a possible future starter in Will Howard. Adding a quarterback in the first couple of rounds could cause something of a quarterback controversy further on down the depth chart if Rodgers returns.

In a different light, Rodgers ‘ return would give Pittsburgh a chance to be even better in 2026. He recorded 25 total touchdowns, seven interceptions, and posted a solid passer rating of 94.8. The four-time MVP and Super Bowl MVP would be reuniting with his former head coach with the Green Bay Packers, Mike McCarthy. In his 11 years starting for McCarthy in Green Bay (2008-2018), Rodgers earned two MVPs and three All-Pro nods, along with seven Pro Bowls. The duo led the Packers to eight straight playoff berths, five NFC North titles, and a Super Bowl title.