A New Franchise Quarterback Will be Pivotal for Steelers

[Steeler Nation]

The Pittsburgh Steelers are about to go through a major change. 18 years of stability at the quarterback position will be no more after Ben Roethlisberger‘s retirement. A new General Manager will take the reins after the NFL Draft with Kevin Colbert stepping down. A new Defensive Coordinator will be named, but will he be calling plays? Or will it still be Head Coach Mike Tomlin making the calls? There are holes at pretty much every position that need to be addressed and to top it all off, the Cincinnati Bengals are headed to the Super Bowl with a young core that is only going to get better.

While the Bengals are AFC Champions this season, teams like the Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, New England Patriots and Tennessee Titans are also going to be extremely problematic for years to come. Four out of the six teams have explosive offenses with dangerously talented quarterbacks in Joe Burrow, Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert. Mac Jones will continue to get better and while Ryan Tannehill isn’t elite, he has a good offensive line and a certain someone who he hands the ball off to that is absolutely the best running back in the league — Derrick Henry.






So this begs the question: How are the Steelers going to keep up with these teams in the standings and on the score board? They averaged 20 points a game and were the only playoff team this year to average less than three touchdowns of scoring a game. It’s not impossible, but there will have to be a lot done to remain competitive the next decade. These changes include a severe boost to the offensive line, linebacker and cornerback adjustments, among other positional edits. However, there is a constant in today’s NFL. If you want to win, you need an exceptional franchise quarterback. These are no longer the days of getting away with a stout defense and flourishing rushing attack.

Steelers fans have been blessed the last 18 off-seasons, not having to worry about who will run the show on offense the following season. That changes this year. Historically, it is very rare for a team to transition from one Hall of Fame quarterback to another potential one, but it can be done as we saw most recently in Green Bay with Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers. Settling is not an option here. The offense has playmakers such as Najee Harris, Diontae Johnson and Pat Freiermuth, but without a gun-slinging, above-average quarterback, it will be hard to get the most out of them. Whether they find their guy via the NFL Draft, trade, or free agency, one thing is certain; Tomlin needs to have a stud at the helm. It is near impossible to win in today’s NFL without a legitimate starting quarterback. I don’t think Mason Rudolph or Dwayne Haskins are “those guys.”

Five of the teams named above were in the top seven in points per game in the 2021 regular season. None averaged less than 27 points a game. The Steelers haven’t averaged more than 27 points a game since the 2014 regular season. And unless a defense is shaped into that of the 2008-’09 season, the offense is going to have to be run by a highly skilled, mobile, reliable quarterback who can lead the team to score in a matter of, what seems like with top tier quarterbacks right now, seconds.

Deshaun Watson‘s accusations of coercive and lewd behavior are deeply disturbing, so while he is a very talented football player, I’d be willing to bet the Steelers stay far away from him. Rodgers looks like he may stay in Green Bay after all and I don’t think Russell Wilson is worth what the Seattle Seahawks will potentially ask for in a trade.






The NFL draft class is not overwhelmingly stacked at the quarterback position, but who’s to say the Steelers aren’t the team to pick the right guy? It will be interesting to see if Colbert selects who he assumes to be the future at the position in his final draft as General Manager.

The other piece to this is Offensive Coordinator, Matt Canada. I think we would see more of the same with Rudolph or Haskins under center. While younger than Roethlisberger, both quarterbacks posted worse 40-yard dash times than Big Ben did pre-draft. Neither have the mobility to be exponentially successful in a, one would hope, a new and improved Canada offense.

One thing here is clear after watching the NFL Playoffs the last two weeks. This is a quarterback-driven league and will be for years to come. The offensive line is going to be crucial as well, but look at the Bengals. They allowed 55 sacks, third most in the NFL, in the regular season and Burrow was sacked nine times in the AFC Divisional round against the Titans. And look where they ended up? The Super Bowl.

The Steelers need to hit a home run with their next quarterback or it will be nearly impossible to keep up with the fire power that is going to haunt the AFC for years to come.



Who do you want to see be the Steelers next quarterback? Let us know in the comments below!

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[slashsteel]

I will need to see a citation on which QBs will truly be available by hook or crook.

 

[Drink IRON City]

Rooney said we are not getting a run QB, does that inhibit O' Canada? Is he the right OC for the job ?




Salute the nation

 

[jiminoh]

While the Bengals are AFC Champions this season, teams like the Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, New England Patriots and Tennessee Titans are also going to be extremely problematic for years to come. Four out of the six teams have explosive offenses with dangerously talented quarterbacks in Joe Burrow, Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert. Mac Jones will continue to get better and while Ryan Tannehill isn’t elite, he has a good offensive line and a certain someone who he hands the ball off to that is absolutely the best running back in the league — Derrick Henry.

So this begs the question: How are the Steelers going to keep up with these teams in the standings and on the score board?

A very, very good question. I guess we'll see what Art and MT do.

 

[wig]

Jesus. Folks be flat out panicking that CoachT. can't maintain his ******* 8-8-1 dream record unless the Steelers go and blow their entire ******* cap on a beard for Tomlin's inadequacy.

 

[johngaenzler]

I still think Kenny Pickett has the skills and “winning” demeanor to be a top 10 QB in the NFL with the right coaching. I think he’s worth trading up to get.

 

[MT~Forged]

I still think Kenny Pickett has the skills and “winning” demeanor to be a top 10 QB in the NFL with the right coaching. I think he’s worth trading up to get.

You may be correct, and I happen to agree that he would be my choice. The problem I have is that the Steelers do NOT have the coaching to develop ayoung QB.

 

[topseed]

For what it's worth, some oddsmakers have Garoppolo at +300 to end up with the Steelers, or a 25% chance. Wouldn't care to see that, personally.

 

[Steelr4evr]

You may be correct, and I happen to agree that he would be my choice. The problem I have is that the Steelers do NOT have the coaching to develop ayoung QB.

This is the number one thing. Hell they won't even teach fundemantals like blocking and tackling.

 

[Litos]

More than ever, given the passing rules the NFL currently has, a franchise QB is pivotal.

Let's prepare the surroundings first to protect the future investment correctly.

 

[TDX27]

Why on earth would the Steelers even entertain the idea of Jimmy G? He's a game manager and really not much better than Rudolph. He would cost us multiple top picks and over $25 million per against the cap. It's a dumb thought no matter how you try to justify it.

 

[ZonaBurgh]

More than ever, given the passing rules the NFL currently has, a franchise QB is pivotal.

Let's prepare the surroundings first to protect the future investment correctly.

With a solid OL, Ben could still be playing and Najee would still be running.

 

[topseed]

Why on earth would the Steelers even entertain the idea of Jimmy G? He's a game manager and really not much better than Rudolph. He would cost us multiple top picks and over $25 million per against the cap. It's a dumb thought no matter how you try to justify it.

I'm not trying to justify ****, just pointed out that sportsbooks have the Steelers as the most likely destination for Garoppolo. I'm sure they have their reasons, whether you think it's dumb or otherwise.

 

[TDX27]

I'm not trying to justify ****, just pointed out that sportsbooks have the Steelers as the most likely destination for Garoppolo. I'm sure they have their reasons, whether you think it's dumb or otherwise.

Wasn't even talking about you or your post. It was a general comment and it goes for any QB that will cost us top picks and a lot of cap space. It makes absolutely no sense unless he is a top player with almost a decade left to play. It will take us several years, at least, just to build a team around him as we will have much less cap space to work with and no top draft picks to use. I said all of this in other posts. I would much rather take a chance on a QB draft pick in Rd. 1 (any other round makes zero sense) this year or even wait a year or two. We can recover quicker from a miss picking a QB than we can from giving away years of top picks and a ton of cap space and then hoping for the best. At least with a miss in the draft, we would have been bringing in other young talent to go around the young QB or even another young QB in a few years if he was a bust. The team would be rebuilt unlike grabbing a FA QB that would handcuff us for years just as we're getting out of being up against the CAP for the past decade or so.

 

[skline00]

We need an O Line!

 

[topseed]

Wasn't even talking about you or your post. It was a general comment and it goes for any QB that will cost us top picks and a lot of cap space. It makes absolutely no sense unless he is a top player with almost a decade left to play. It will take us several years, at least, just to build a team around him as we will have much less cap space to work with and no top draft picks to use. I said all of this in other posts. I would much rather take a chance on a QB draft pick in Rd. 1 (any other round makes zero sense) this year or even wait a year or two. We can recover quicker from a miss picking a QB than we can from giving away years of top picks and a ton of cap space and then hoping for the best. At least with a miss in the draft, we would have been bringing in other young talent to go around the young QB or even another young QB in a few years if he was a bust. The team would be rebuilt unlike grabbing a FA QB that would handcuff us for years just as we're getting out of being up against the CAP for the past decade or so.

OK. I'm the only guy who mentioned Garoppolo in this thread, so I assumed that you were.

 

[Black & Gold Bleeder]

omg

 

[slashsteel]

Wasn't even talking about you or your post. It was a general comment and it goes for any QB that will cost us top picks and a lot of cap space. It makes absolutely no sense unless he is a top player with almost a decade left to play. It will take us several years, at least, just to build a team around him as we will have much less cap space to work with and no top draft picks to use. I said all of this in other posts. I would much rather take a chance on a QB draft pick in Rd. 1 (any other round makes zero sense) this year or even wait a year or two. We can recover quicker from a miss picking a QB than we can from giving away years of top picks and a ton of cap space and then hoping for the best. At least with a miss in the draft, we would have been bringing in other young talent to go around the young QB or even another young QB in a few years if he was a bust. The team would be rebuilt unlike grabbing a FA QB that would handcuff us for years just as we're getting out of being up against the CAP for the past decade or so.

A free agent QB wouldn't handcuff the team any more than a first round QB. Maybe even less. Their contract can be a shorter term. That drafted QB they have to spend more time in with teaching developing. The impact usually takes longer. And if they bust you are back to square one just like you are if a free agent doesn't work out. Also with a free agent QB you already know if they are semi capable of starting. Not to forget Omar usually stairstacks the contract that is friendly on the front end. So that can be a quicker cut onto the next free agent or draft pick. There is also that old idea of throwing **** against the wall and see what sticks as in bring in a free agent andddd draft a QB. There is always this option too. Not stuck on one or the other approach.

 

[TDX27]

A free agent QB wouldn't handcuff the team any more than a first round QB. Maybe even less. Their contract can be a shorter term. That drafted QB they have to spend more time in with teaching developing. The impact usually takes longer. And if they bust you are back to square one just like you are if a free agent doesn't work out. Also with a free agent QB you already know if they are semi capable of starting. Not to forget Omar usually stairstacks the contract that is friendly on the front end. So that can be a quicker cut onto the next free agent or draft pick. There is also that old idea of throwing **** against the wall and see what sticks as in bring in a free agent andddd draft a QB. There is always this option too. Not stuck on one or the other approach.

I agree but I was talking about a QB that will cost us top picks and capital. That would mean we can't rebuild the rest of the team through top draft picks or free agency. We need our picks and cap space. Sign a few and hopefully hit on a few draft picks.

 

[Lunar]

I will need to see a citation on which QBs will truly be available by hook or crook.

 

[steelhurt]

Do we even know what the Niners are asking for Jimmy G? I do know he has one year left on his contract and a 27 mill cap hit. That part I want no part of. He’s an ok QB, nothing special, simply a bridge QB. We would have to re-do the contract and cap hit and I’m not giving up premium picks for him. No way!

 

[ZonaBurgh]

We need an effective O Line!

Just to clarify.

 

[slashsteel]

That's a nice looking luxury vehicle.

 

[Fiji Mariner]

Jacoby Brissett come on down you’re the next contestant on “Please not Mason”

I’ve had a strange feeling he’s gonna be the guy brought in to compete

Could see Jimmy G as a bridge QB as well if the cost is a 3rd or less (the 49ers want him gone and it is not a friendly contract)…frankly would rather a Brissett or similar over trading a pick for Jimmy G though

 

[Man In The Arena]

It's Pickett or bust for me. Since it's unlikely that we'll sign Rodgers, let's sign Garoppolo as the bridge. **** Mason and Haskins.