Bold claim, and not the one you’d expect: Pittsburgh’s QB situation remains unsettled, and a high-profile trade could shake up the Steelers’ plans more than you’d think. Now, after facing heat for a different proposed move, ESPN veteran Bill Barnwell doubles down by suggesting a new path to acquire a quarterback for Pittsburgh.
This time Barnwell envisions the Steelers trading for Philadelphia Eagles backup Tanner McKee, proposing a package that includes a 2026 third-round pick plus a conditional 2027 third-round pick in exchange for a quarterback who’s still largely undefined on the NFL stage.
In a broader feature listing 11 NFL trades, Barnwell argues that Pittsburgh isn’t in a full rebuild, but it can’t keep cycling through quarterbacks forever. He notes that six signal-callers have started for the Steelers over the last four seasons, and only veteran Mason Rudolph is on the 2026 roster. He also mentions Will Howard, the 2025 sixth-round pick, who’s in the mix—but with a history of limited starting opportunities and an early preseason injury, his projection remains uncertain.
Barnwell also flirts with the Rodgers reunion angle. He suggests Mike McCarthy could try pairing with Aaron Rodgers again, a pairing that previously hit a rough patch before LaFleur’s arrival. He adds a caution: Rodgers, at age 42, entering circumstances where a late-career resurgence isn’t guaranteed, while McCarthy’s recent influence on Rodgers’ late-era MVP form isn’t a slam dunk either.
Meanwhile, public sentiment is increasingly leaning toward the Steelers re-signing Rodgers, a move McCarthy has publicly signaled he’d welcome back for his first Pittsburgh season. Yet Barnwell and several national analysts keep pushing for alternative routes, hinting that Pittsburgh should explore options beyond a Rodgers reunion.
McKee has been a popular name lately. He brings height and tangible traits that intrigue a quarterback developer like McCarthy, but his NFL résumé is still minimal: only six games played, two starts, and a relatively small sample size to judge.
In last year’s Week 18 against Washington, McKee went 21 for 40 for 241 yards with a touchdown and an interception in a 24–17 loss. In 2024, he started Week 17 versus the Giants, completing 27 of 41 for 269 yards and two TDs in a 20–13 win, and he went 3 of 4 for 54 yards and two touchdowns in a prior blowout over Dallas. At 6-foot-6, he has the size to catch a development-minded team’s eye, but his limited exposure raises questions about ready-made impact.
Barnwell speculates that Pittsburgh could pursue McKee and then secure a short-term extension to keep him in the mix while evaluating his upside, especially if the club chooses not to bring Rodgers back. He frames this as a potentially sensible swing for a team that’s rarely positioned to draft top-tier quarterback prospects, aided by an extra third-round pick from the George Pickens deal which could make taking a calculated risk feel more palatable.
On the surface, there’s logic here. McKee’s physical toolkit and traits align with what a quarterback developer would want. That said, Mike McCarthy’s affinity for Will Howard remains a significant obstacle to pursuing an external option, given Howard’s ongoing development and the team’s apparent belief in his potential.
If Pittsburgh does trade picks for a quarterback, two realistic paths emerge: chase a proven veteran such as Kyler Murray or Mac Jones, or move up in the 2026 draft to land a desired young passer. McKee is an attractive name, but the odds of Pittsburgh prioritizing him over their current developmental plan—especially if Rodgers returns—seem slim.
All told, Barnwell’s latest proposal is more coherent than his previous idea, but it still sits in a gray area. It’s a fresh angle, yet it invites debate about whether the Steelers should bet on a developing quarterback or pursue a more certain upgrade.
Would you side with a high-upside gamble like McKee or prefer sticking with or retooling around a veteran option? Share your take in the comments.
