Just when you thought we were out of the woods with the QB in the first round talk, it pulls you right back in. Walter Football is reporting the Pittsburgh Steelers are showing heavy interest in Notre Dame QB DeShone Kizer and trying to get a feel for if he’ll be available with the 30th overall pick.
From the article.
“In the final days before the draft, WalterFootball.com has learned from team sources that Steelers have been asking around to other teams, trying to gauge where Kizer could be drafted and who could be interested in taking him. Pittsburgh has to start planning for the retirement of Ben Roethlisberger and it sounds as though Kizer is viewed as their developmental starter in waiting while Roethlisberger finishes out his career.”
Walter Football isn’t exactly the most reputable and trusted of sources, let’s be upfront about that, and their work can get sloppy. But to be fair, they’ve had Kizer pegged as the Steelers’ pick for weeks now, so it’s not as if this information is coming out of nowhere.
Charlie Campbell, the author, says the team has tried to be “discrete” about their interest in Kizer, not bringing him in for a visit and only sending Todd Haley out to Notre Dame’s Pro Day. He started the past two years in South Bend, struggling on a bad team in 2016. His completion percentage dipped under 60% as the Fighting Irish went 4-8 as Brian Kelly benched him during points of the season.
Kizer doesn’t lack any confidence though, proclaiming himself to be the top QB in this year’s class. Here’s what he recently told USA Today’s Tom Pelissero.
“Name a college quarterback who goes into the game-plan meetings on Monday and throws his notes at the coaches,” Kizer said. “No one else game plans the way I do. No one else prepares the way I do… And I’ve truly figured out in this (draft) process, if I can maximize all my potential in every aspect of the game – this is bold – I do have the ability to be the greatest quarterback to ever play. Imagine taking (Tom) Brady’s intellect and Brady’s preparation and putting it on a guy with Cam Newton’s body. Why can’t I be the greatest? The only thing stopping me from it is me. That’s what’s driving me now.”
The Steelers have also shown interest in Patrick Mahomes, Josh Dobbs, and Brad Kaaya. We’ll finally figure this whole thing out on Thursday.
If this report turns out to be true, now is a good time to familiarize yourself with Kizer. Go read his report.
