Why Marcus Mariota is the answer for the Pittsburgh Steelers

[Steeler Nation]

Rumors are swirling and names flying on who will fill the shoes of 18-year veteran quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger. Heading into this year’s off-season, there has been speculation of seemingly every quarterback in the league being “the next one” to lead the Pittsburgh Steelers.

After considering the Steelers’ options for quarterback for the 2022-23 season, one thing is for certain… the starter cannot come from within. We have seen what Mason Rudolph is capable of, and that he has shown to be nothing more than a glorified back up. Meanwhile, Dwayne Haskins was shown to be too busy scrolling his phone during pregame warmups. So, who is the answer, you might ask?

The Steelers need to turn to a veteran quarterback who still has a little fuel left in the tank and offer the Steelers a different look. A second chance does not always prove to be successful, as we have all seen with Andy Dalton, Teddy Bridgewater, and Jameis Winston. But what about a veteran quarterback who has not had a true second chance with a starting position?






Marcus Mariota has had a disappointing career since being the 2nd overall pick in 2015. However, he has not had a viable opportunity to showcase his talents. As the Tennessee Titans‘ starting quarterback, he had limited weapons and underwent a coaching change. He managed to overcome this adversity and lead the Titans to three nine-win seasons before they brought in Ryan Tannehill to take over. Mariota eventually headed west to backup Derek Carr in Las Vegas.

As a free agent this off-season, and with a ‘not so deep’ quarterback draft class, Mariota will likely be exploring new destinations for the upcoming season. So, where better than Pittsburgh?

Team insiders have reported the Steelers will be looking to trade for or sign a veteran quarterback. With the likes of Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson, and Jimmy Garrapolo becoming available and their asking prices so high, the Steelers need to steer clear of these options and sign a quarterback like Mariota to a team-friendly one or two-year deal.

This would be a win-win for both parties. Mariota will be looking for the chance to be a starting quarterback again, and playing for the Steelers would be the perfect opportunity to audition his talents to the rest of the league. For the Steelers, Mariota is a cheap option for quarterback that will allow them to retain their draft picks and extra cap money for other team needs such as the line of scrimmage, secondary, and inside linebacker.






Mariota will offer the Steelers a reasonable chance at a winning season. With his mobility, he will be able to extend plays and move around in the pocket – an upgrade from an aging Roethlisberger. Also, the Steelers will be able to attempt an RPO offense between Mariota and Najee Harris. Then, if you surround him with the weapons this offense has in Diontae Johnson, Chase Claypool, and Pat Freiermuth… who knows what could happen?

According to what we have heard from Steelers’ head coach Mike Tomlin thus far, it sounds as if offensive coordinator Matt Canada will be sticking around for at least another year. Furthermore, Canada has expressed the need for a mobile quarterback to run his offense. The Steelers signing Mariota and drafting an offensive lineman may just be exactly what Canada needs.

Not saying the thought of Aaron Rodgers in a Steelers uniform would not be neat… but let’s be real, this team is more than a good quarterback away from being true AFC champions and Super Bowl contenders again. Mariota gives the Steelers a different look and is the Band-Aid the this team needs to help them focus on other areas until the team is truly ready to trade or draft their future franchise quarterback.



What are your thoughts, Steelers fans? Comment in the comment section below.

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