Should the Steelers try to draft and develop a mid-round quarterback?
The Steelers are faced with one of the weaker quarterback draft classes in years, well out of reach of the best names like Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders. Many believe that the best quarterbacks of this class barely rival the worst of last year’s first-rounders.
But the thing with franchise quarterbacks is you can’t play the game if you don’t buy a ticket. While most agree that the Steelers shouldn’t invest a first-round pick on the position, they stand no chance of landing a franchise quarterback if they don’t even get the bat off their shoulder.
Recent reports suggest that the Steelers are indeed interested in adding a mid-round quarterback. Some names we have heard for a while include the obvious, like Will Howard and Jalen Milroe. While later rounds rarely yield long-term quarterbacks, it’s more than never. Think about Russell Wilson, Dak Prescott, and Brock Purdy and undrafted free agents Kurt Warner and Tony Romo.
The Steelers have drafted two quarterbacks since Ben Roethlisberger retired, both in the same year. The first was Kenny Pickett in the first round in 2022, whom they traded a year ago. At the end of the same class, they drafted Chris Oladokun, whom they barely took a look at.
At the moment, the Steelers have no quarterbacks under contract other than Skylar Thompson. Russell Wilson and Justin Fields are both pending free agents, as is Kyle Allen. It’s likely that they will re-sign either Wilson or Fields, and possibly Allen as well. But they will still have an opening for someone to compete for this year’s backup spot.
Should that opportunity go to a rookie, and how much does it depend on which veteran they sign? Are they more likely, for example, to take a chance on Milroe should he fall if they re-sign Fields? Steelers president Art Rooney II expressed a desire to have a quarterback room with which they can run a uniform system. The implication was that Wilson and Fields differed too much for his liking, but how much does that matter?
The Steelers’ 2024 season has come to its predictably inauspicious end, with yet another one-and-done postseason for HC Mike Tomlin. The offense faltered, and the defense matched it blow for blow, leading to a 21-0 first-half deficit.
Just like last year, the biggest question hanging over the Steelers is the quarterback question. Do they still believe in Russell Wilson, and/or Justin Fields, or do they want another solution? There are other major decisions to make, as well, such as what to do with George Pickens. Do you sign him to an extension, try to trade him, or let him play out his rookie contract?
The Steelers started the 2024 season 10-3, with Mike Tomlin in the Coach of the Year conversation. Wash, rinse, and repeat, and we have another late-season collapse. This may be the worst yet, a four-game losing streak presaging a one-and-done playoff “run”. Welcome to Steelers football.
