ESPN points out the one move the Pittsburgh Steelers have to make this offseason
For the first time in nearly two decades, the Pittsburgh Steelers are entering the offseason with no clear plan at the quarterback position. Longtime starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger announced his retirement from the NFL earlier this offseason, which leaves Mason Rudolph as QB1 on the Steelers' roster. Rudolph is a former third-round pick who has […]
For the first time in nearly two decades, the Pittsburgh Steelers are entering the offseason with no clear plan at the quarterback position.
Longtime starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger announced his retirement from the NFL earlier this offseason, which leaves Mason Rudolph as QB1 on the Steelers' roster.
Rudolph is a former third-round pick who has played sparingly the last two years since starting eight games in 2019 (Pittsburgh went 5-3 in those eight starts).
ESPN's Bill Barnwell suggested this week that Pittsburgh's top offseason priority should be finding a "short-term solution under center", indicating that he doesn't believe in Rudolph's potential as a starting quarterback in the NFL.
From ESPN:
I wouldn't fault Pittsburgh for going after Aaron Rodgers or Russell Wilson, but with a line that ranked 31st in pass block win rate, it needs to devote its first-round pick (No. 20) toward protecting a quarterback.
With that in mind, going after Carson Wentz, Kirk Cousins or Jimmy Garoppolo makes sense — especially because those passers are far more likely to actually be available. The Steelers could draft Kenny Pickett or Malik Willis, but given how dominant their defense can be, I would lean more toward getting a higher-ceiling immediate option and trusting that a competent offense would keep them in the postseason. Mike Tomlin somehow coaxed a playoff appearance out of a season in which his offense ranked 25th.
Mason Rudolph, Ben Roethlisberger's backup for the past few years, might get a crack at the job, but we don't have much evidence that he's an NFL-caliber quarterback.
This is an interesting suggestion. Barnwell essentially thinks that Pittsburgh should pass on a quarterback like Malik Willis — a popular mock draft pick for the Steelers this offseason — and instead trade for a veteran quarterback.
That idea makes some sense if the Steelers truly believe they can win the AFC North in 2022 with a quarterback like Kirk Cousins or Carson Wentz.
I'm usually in the camp that says keep drafting a quarterback until you find an elite one. Retread quarterbacks don't usually win Super Bowls. But with the Steelers' dominant defense, maybe they go for a "bridge" quarterback option instead and just wait another year or two to find their long-term quarterback.
Featured image via Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
