The NFL trade deadline passed on Tuesday. And now every publication and website other than Ladies' Home Journal has published a mock NFL Draft in the past few days.

If the season ended today, the Pittsburgh Steelers would have the 20th selection in the first round. Coincidentally, the draft will be held in Pittsburgh for the first time next April.

The Steelers have been expected to use the 2026 draft to find their quarterback of the future in the first round. Aaron Rodgers was signed as a free agent in the offseason, but the 41-year-old is expected to retire at the end of the season.

However, Rodgers might be tempted to come back in 2026 if he continues to play well. The 21-year veteran has led the Steelers to a 5-3 record while completing 68.7 percent of his passes for 1,692 yards and 17 touchdowns. The Los Angeles Rams' Matthew Stafford (21) and the Los Angeles Chargers' Justin Herbert (18) are the only quarterbacks in the NFL with more TD passes.

The Steelers may need Rodgers to come back because the top quarterbacks will be off the board if Pittsburgh stays at No. 20 in the draft order. Indiana's Fernando Mendoza, Alabama's Ty Simpson, and Oregon's Dante Moore are expected to be selected in the top 10 in many drafts.

South Carolina's LaNorris Sellers, Oklahoma's John Mateer, and LSU's Garrett Nussmeier could still be available with the 20th pick. Still, the Steelers might not believe any of those three are capable of being a starting NFL quarterback in their rookie season's Week 1.

Rodgers hasn't definitively said he will retire at season's end. He also seems genuinely happy with the Steelers after two rocky seasons with the New York Jets and a borderline acrimonious end to his 18-season stint with the Green Bay Packers in 2022.

Pro Football Focus grades Rodgers as just the 24th-best quarterback in the league. At his advanced age, Rodgers clearly isn't the same player who won four NFL MVP awards with the Packers.

However, he is better than anyone the Steelers have on their roster right now – no offense to Mason Rudolph, Skylar Thompson, and rookie Will Howard – or anyone likely available in the draft. There is a lot of season left, but for now, Rodgers is the Steelers' best option again for 2026.