After spending all day having its insiders BREAK NEWS about the exact date of previously announced matchups for the 2025 season, the NFL finally released its full regular season schedule Wednesday night. Each team puts out its own release video, and let’s just say if they awarded the NFL Draft order based on these productions, the Steelers’ video would be in contention for the first overall pick. Somebody tell Mike Tomlin we wanna see big changes in the marketing department next year.

I don’t think I’ll ever buy into the schedule release as an exciting offseason event, but seeing the full schedule laid out can help us contextualize some storylines to follow this season. Of course, there is no bigger storyline for the Steelers than finding their next franchise quarterback. Regardless of who lines up under center this season, the pressure is mounting for the organization to stabilize the position.

The two sentiments I feel are most prevalent regarding the Steelers are as follows:

Even with the Steelers' troubling quarterback predicament, I can tell you I still believe that first statement to be closer to the truth than the second. Still, I don’t find it out of the realm of possibility that the Steelers could suffer their first losing season under Mike Tomlin.

So with an eye towards the draft, let’s establish the Steelers’ floor and a ceiling.

If the offensive line gels, and the Steelers get enough competent quarterback play to prevent defenses from selling out to stop the run, the Steelers could have a 10-11 win season. There’s enough talent on this team to even win a Wild Card game under the right circumstances. That could land the Steelers anywhere from pick 19 to pick 28, not exactly prime spot for picking a quarterback.

But in a world where the Steelers’ young offensive line continues to struggle, where the the quarterback play remains subpar, defenses are able to effectively take DK Metcalf out of the game with no other receivers stepping up, and/or Pittsburgh’s defense once again is worn down because the offense can’t stay on the field, the Steelers could have a much lower floor. Looking at the Steelers schedule, I have a hard time seeing them finishing worse than 6-8 wins without some poor injury luck to significant players.

For perspective, last season, the 49ers had six wins, which netted them the 11th pick in the draft. The Cardinals and Falcons each had eight wins and were picking 15th and 16th, respectively.

It’s too early to be certain how many quarterbacks will declare for the 2026 draft, but the class is expected to be much stronger than 2025’s. I’ve seen at least a dozen passers mentioned in various articles and videos as potential first round picks, though history tells us we’ll be lucky if that number is around three or four come draft season.

This class also lacks a marquee name. In recent years, the NFL community has been certain guys like Andrew Luck, Trevor Lawrence and Caleb Williams were going to be the first overall picks for at least a year in advance. The 2026 class could have that in Arch Manning, but he’s only started two games in his college career so far and could elect to return to school. If that happens and none of the quarterbacks expected to declare cement themselves as first rounders, we could just as easily have a class like this year’s where only one or two quarterbacks are drafted in the first round.

There’s a lot of unknowns and uncontrollable variables that will impact the Steelers pursuit of a quarterback, but the schedule release and quarterback situations of other teams around the league can clue us in on which teams to keep an eye on.

As I see it, the state of quarterbacks in the league can be summarized like this (with links to their schedules).

Teams set at QB

Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images

We won’t go into great detail here about schedules. Most of these are no brainers. The teams with elite quarterbacks won’t need to draft a quarterback or be in a low enough position to trade. Teams with promising second-year passers or quarterbacks with freshly signed contracts won’t be looking either, but could be potential trade candidates if they’re picking highly again in 2026 — I’m looking at you Patriots and Niners.

Looking for a QB only if something has gone drastically wrong

Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images

This tier of teams is a mixed bag. Some of these teams have been to the playoffs recently with their quarterback. Others have recently drafted or signed one to a big contract. These teams are likely set, but in a league that only cares about what you’ve done lately, I would be shocked if they threw their hat into the rookie QB race next draft.

Minnesota has yet to see McCarthy on the field in game action and we’ve seen teams — like Arizona — bail on a quarterback one year after drafting them. The NFC North has four legitimate playoff contenders, and division series against the AFC North and NFC East will not be easy.

Speaking of the Cardinals, if they miss the playoffs again in a wide open NFC West, could their patience with Kyler Murray run out?

Denver seems like it found it’s guy in Bo Nix, but if he fails to elevate his game this year, would Sean Payton get wandering eyes?

Every team I’ve listed in this tier has a scenario where they could finish with a top-10 pick. Whether they decide to bail on their quarterbacks or become trade partners for a Steelers move up the board, keep them in mind this season.

Teams I’d expect to be looking for a new starter or heir apparent

Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images

This is the tier with teams I’m certain the Steelers will be competing with for a QB in the draft.

Cleveland is a mess right now and a team I fully expect to be picking in the top 10 next year. They head into 2025 with Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett and a pair of mid-round rookies in Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. After picking up a second first round pick in their draft day trade with the Jaguars, the Browns also have the ammunition to facilitate a trade up.

The Colts seemed ready to give up on Anthony Richardson last season, and have announced he will be competing with Daniel Jones for the starting role. That’s less than ideal. I actually like a lot of the other pieces on the Colts roster, but without a quarterback, games agains the AFC North and NFC West will be tough.

Vegas is a team I think could actually make significant strides in 2025, but newly acquired Geno Smith is 34 and a career journeyman, plus the AFC West isn't exactly a cakewalk. While I think the Raiders have the least pressing need in this tier, it would make sense for them to bring in a young arm to develop behind Smith for a year or two. Smith’s contract runs through 2027, but gives the Raiders an easy out after 2026 if they go that route.

The Saints just drafted Tyler Shough, but a second round QB does not have the same job security as a first round pick. Add in Shough’s unusual prospect profile, and he’s anything but a sure bet as a longterm option. Meanwhile the Saints roster continues to get older while trying to survive the cap situation management has trapped them in. If Shough isn’t the guy for them, drafting a rookie QB will be near the top of the Saints’ priorities.

Lastly the Rams are another team I’d bet money will be searching for an heir apparent to Matthew Stafford. Staffor is now 37 years old with a long history of ailments. The Rams explored trading him this offseason before eventually restructuring his deal. As of this writing, 2026 is the last year he’ll be under contract with the Rams. With a second first round pick in hand thanks to their trade with Atlanta, the Rams should be major players for a trade up.

What are your take aways from the NFL Schedule release? Which teams do you think will impact the Steelers draft the most? Let us know in the comments!