The 2026 NFL Draft takes place April 23-25, in Pittsburgh. “Breakfast with Benz” is previewing potential Steelers selections at each position group with Matt Williamson, a former pro and college scout who has worked at Pitt and with the Cleveland Browns. Williamson is an on-air host at WDVE, Fox Sports Pittsburgh 970, and the Steelers Radio Network.

We start our coverage for 2026 with a look at the quarterbacks and the running backs in Monday’s podcast.

Despite the Steelers’ clear need for a long-term answer at quarterback, it’s probably best to assume Aaron Rodgers is going to be the team’s QB in 2026. All indications suggest that will be the case, even if it appears that it is going to take a while for the Steelers to get a straight answer.

Also, the Steelers still have a frequently used backup in Mason Rudolph, and last year’s project pick in Will Howard, who the franchise allegedly likes and seems to be strategically promoting to its fan base.

So, while evaluating the quarterbacks of this year’s class as potential first-rounders, it’s probably best to look at the group through the lens of whether there is a QB who is worthy enough to take this year at No. 21 (or higher with a trade) to put on ice for a year and learn behind Rodgers.

Or, to have in their back pocket if June comes and Rodgers isn’t on board by then, this time.

Based on how former pro and college scout Matt Williamson sees the 2026 class, beyond presumptive No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza (Indiana), that doesn’t appear to be the case.

Should Rodgers retire or sign elsewhere, he doesn’t see this year’s answer — or a long-term solution — in this crop of signal callers.

“If Rodgers is a no-go, it’ll end up being (Derek) Carr or (another veteran). Someone who isn’t super exciting, but has been around the block. I don’t think you just throw Howard into the mix. I think that’s total crazy talk,” Williamson said during Monday’s “Breakfast with Benz” podcast.

“I know people hate hearing this, but I would really put all my chips into next year’s quarterback class. I just think there’s much better and way more guys to pick from next year. … This is boring, but I kind of think it’s Rodgers, Rudolph, Howard and maybe a seventh-round camp-arm. Then go all-in next year.”

According to Williamson, there’s only one name for the Steelers to even consider at the No. 21 slot in the first round.

“Ty Simpson from Alabama. And that’s not a move I would make,” Williamson insisted. “He just doesn’t quite do it for me. He’s intriguing, he’s very twitchy. He’s very smart. But guys with his number of starts (15) have really struggled in the league. He’s smaller (6-foot-1, 211 pounds), in a Kenny Pickett type of way. He gets beaten up and thrown around. That, to me, is not where I’m hitching my first-round wagon.”

Williamson used a baseball analogy to provide texture as to why he’d stay away from Simpson at No. 21.

“I thought this even before the Pickett draft pick, but I feel it stronger after that. If I’m going for a first-round pick at this position, I’m (going for) Dave Kingman. I’m swinging for the fences. If I strike out, so be it,” Williamson said. “I am not (going for) Vince Coleman. I am not a singles hitter. I am not settling for a Pickett-type prospect.”

Those criticisms aside, Williamson does think Simpson is the best QB on the board after Mendoza, and would consider him in the second round if Rodgers stiffs the Steelers between now and the draft. But Simpson is likely to be gone by that point in the second round (pick 53 overall).

“Realistically, I don’t see an option that adds up with the Steelers. I would consider (a QB pick) in the third, fourth, fifth, all the way down till the end. I am a believer that taking a quarterback every year is a smart move. And they have (12) picks,” Williamson continued. “So taking a bite of the apple, hoping you hit a home run, makes all the sense in the world to me.”

A guy with that Day 3 type of profile who interests Williamson is Cole Payton of North Dakota State.

“He really reminds me of Tim Tebow — good, bad and ugly. He is a big, strong, muscle-bound lefty,” Williamson said. “He is super athletic. He is also stiff in his upper body, like Tebow. He needs a lot of work with his mechanics and things of that nature. But tools? I adore him. This guy can run down on kickoffs for you. He could be Taysom Hill. He makes a lot of big-time throws. He’s the name for that (third day) price. You might get lightning in a bottle.”

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Williamson thinks that while Payton incubates, he could perform the “tush push” duties that Connor Heyward used to handle. And he may be able to help the team with a specialty package of plays like Hill has done over the years in New Orleans.

Meanwhile, Williamson is not high on Penn State quarterback Drew Allar.

“Allar, to me, is just not a natural quarterback. He doesn’t have a very good feel for the position,” Williamson said. “He throws the ball hard, but there’s a lot of clunkiness to it. He’s not a natural thrower. He was never a pitcher. He was never a javelin thrower. I worry about Allar. Many people think that’s the guy to take a chance on. Maybe. Big. He has a big arm. He looks great walking into the room. But after that, I don’t see a lot.”

Also, during the podcast, Williamson gives his full assessment of how he thinks Mendoza will perform for Las Vegas. We talk about the running backs, specifically how high Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love may go. And we debate if the Steelers will take a running back at all now that they have added Rico Dowdle and Travis Homer to the roster.

Tuesday’s preview highlights potential draft choices at wide receiver and tight end.