​Arch Manning, Texas AthleticsWith Aaron Rodgers saying this season is his last year, the Pittsburgh Steelers will have to find his heir apparent. Unless the team thinks Drew Allar or Will Howard are the answer, there will be a slew of top-tier quarterbacks in the 2027 NFL Draft for the Steelers to choose from. In the A to Z Sports Mock Draft Simulator, the Steelers landed Texas quarterback Arch Manning at 27th overall. Manning has not yet announced whether he will return to the Longhorns or enter the draft. Manning comes from a long line of NFL quarterbacks, as he’s the grandson of Archie Manning and nephew of Peyton and Eli Manning. “We’re pretending he declares. And if Manning does enter the 2027 NFL Draft, this is a pretty interesting landing spot. Pittsburgh has consistently been searching for its next long-term answer at quarterback, and Manning would give the franchise a potential centerpiece for the future,” Joe DeLeone and Ryan Roberts of A to Z Sports wrote. “There is plenty of attention that comes with being a Manning, but the Steelers would be betting on his own development and potential rather than the family name. Getting him at No. 27 would be a fascinating scenario, especially for an organization that needs some stability at the position.”Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy is a quarterback whisper. A duo of McCarthy and Manning can get the Steelers back on track and out of the musical chairs at quarterback that they’ve been in since Ben Roethlisberger retired following the 2021 season. Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning throws a pass during the first half against the Texas A&M Aggies at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas on Nov 28, 2025. — Scott Wachter/Imagn ImagesCredit: Scott Wachter-Imagn ImagesManning was one of the most-talked about prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft class, but after a struggle of a 2025 season, he decided to return to Texas.Manning finished his first regular season as a starter leading Texas to a 9-3 record, posting 2,942 passing yards to go with 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions, as well as 244 yards and eight touchdowns rushing. Arch struggled early but has shown great strides in the last few weeks, most notably in SEC showdowns against Arkansas and Vanderbilt, led by Heisman Trophy runner-up Diego Pavia, throwing for 389 yards and four touchdowns in a 52-37 victory over the Razorbacks and 328 yards and three touchdowns in a 34-31 win against the 13th-ranked Commodores. After a rough start to the season, this growth shows promise and he could be the favorite to go first overall in the 2027 NFL Draft.That promise was a central theme in the conversation this week after Manning officially announced he will return to Texas for the 2026 season and pass on the upcoming NFL Draft. Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian outlined why that choice makes sense, not just for the Longhorns, but for Manning’s long-term trajectory.“I would think he’s going to want another yea