Steelers Continued Quarterback Woes Go On

With Mason Rudolph returning the Steelers this week, the two quarterbacks on the roster are now him and Sykler (ar?) Thompson, and there is now growing concern surrounding who is going to lead the way for Pittsburgh. The excitement by trading for DK Metcalf was quickly quelled when most fans asked, who is going to throw him the ball? What’s worse is that the options seem to be getting very very slim for the Steelers.

Much to the chagrin of many Steelrs fans, Fields left for the Jets for a $30 million guaranteed contract and assurances that he would be the starter in New York. My guess would be that the Steelers were less inclined to give Fields a lump sum of guaranteed cash, not that they weren’t ready to call him the starter. Beyond fields, Sam Daronld has gone to Seattle, Daniel Jones is off to Indy, leaving the Steelers with the option of Russ or Rodgers. At least that's what the media is reporting at the time.

Quarterback is the most glaring need for the Steelers and it has been since Big Ben retired, and the Steelers have yet to find a suitable replacement. This has led to many fans and media expressing frustration regarding the Steelers inability to find a consistent starter, and some fans even saying the Steelers are reaching Browns level of quarterback issues. Yesterday Colin Cowherd stated that the Steelers have been “plugging leaks” with stop gap quarterbacks for a few years now. 

While it is an interesting analogy, which is Cowherd's specialty, it's not exactly unique to the Steelers. Since we already brought up the Browns, it's worth noting they have had 19 quarterbacks start at least one game from 2015 to now, and only 1 quarterback has started more than 10 games in consecutive seasons when Baker Mayfield did it from 2018 to 2021. However, we don’t want to be compared to the Browns right? 

Prior to drafting Patrick Mahomes the Kansas City Chiefs had 9 different people start at least one game since 2015. In the case of the Bills they started the likes of Kyle Orton, Tyrod Taylor, EJ Manuel, Matt Casssel, and Nathan Peterman before they finally drafted Josh Allen. In the last 10 years the Washington Commanders have started 14 different people at least one game at quarterback. The Chicago Bears…are still looking for a franchise quarterback. Some of these quarterback changes are due to injury which is an important context. 

However, since Big Ben retired in 2021 the Steelers have started 5 different quarterbacks. So to say that the Steelers are somehow the league's example when it comes to plugging holes at the quarterback spot is hyperbole to say the least. Fans need to understand that is what happens in this league. You have to try to find a suitable starter if you have yet to find the franchise guy. This is why quarterbacks like Tyrod Taylor and Jacoby Brissett maintain such long careers in the NFL. Finding the next franchise guy is an easy thing to do.

This NFL free agency period is the best example of that. Despite there being a number of quarterbacks that were available to the Steelers, the reality is, none of them, not one, is a future Super Bowl winner. 

Justin Fields is the one quarterback that most Steelers fans are most upset over. Admittedly that would have been my first choice given his mobility and his age. However, we have to come back to earth when it comes to Fields. He had a good six starts this season but if Steelers fans are being honest, he didn’t do anything that would indicate he was a franchise QB. He does have talent and has the highest ceiling of any free agent, but history would tell you that Justin Fields is as good as he is going to be, and his likelihood of turning the Jets around is going to be very slim. It makes sense that the Steelers did not want to give a quarterback that has only won 17 games $30 million guaranteed ($1.7 per win as pointed out by Mark Kaboly).

The next option was Sam Darnold who appeared to have a career revival in Minnesota last year which made him the most sought after quarterback in free agency. However, context is key. The Vikings have one of the most creative offensive minds in KOC which could get the best out of any quarterback in his system. What’s more, the Vikings have the best or second best wide receiver in the NFL in Justin Jefferson. Neither of which would follow him to his next team. I think the most damning evidence against Sam Darnold is the fact that the Vikings had no desire to bring him back to Minnesota. While it is true they spent the 9th overall pick last year on JJ McCarthy, NFL teams do not let franchise quarterbacks walk out of the building. It is not nothing that the Vikings would rather go with a QB starting his first season, than Darnold.

From there the Steelers “missed out” on quarterbacks Daniel Jones, Mac Jones, and not trading for Geno Smith. The respective Jones explain themselves as to why they were not signed, but Geno Smith is essentially a younger Russell Wilson without the arm strength, and giving up draft capital and another contract for a quarterback that is going to uphold the status quo, is what we are trying to get away from.

If Steelers fans truly want to avoid the typical 10 win season followed by a first round playoff exit they need to be realistic about who the steelers are “missing out” on. In reality none of the free agent quarterbacks have the talent to elevate the Steelers from what they were last year, even with the addition of DK Metcalf. Admittedly it is unsettling not to have  a real starting quarterback on the roster, but the Steeler are doing well to avoid getting anchored to a contract for a quarterback who is not better than what they had last year. 

That said, things aren’t looking great in the quarterback market right now. The remaining options are Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson, a distant chance of Kirk Cousins or the insurance policy of Mason Rudolph. Kirk Cousins should not be an option. That is the quarterback equivalent of filing for bankruptcy. Somehow through voodoo magic or blackmail Kirk Cousins manages preposterously large contracts with huge sums of guaranteed money to play…decent. What's more is that he is touching 40 and wasn’t mobile before he tore his achilles, and he just got benched for Michael Penix.

To be quite frank I am ambivalent towards a reunion with Russ. I think from a maturity and leadership perspective given the personalities in the WR room and he does love to throw the deep ball which would pair well with two excellent jump ball wide receivers. However, it is being reported that Russ had a “dead arm” during the last 4 games of the season including the playoffs, avoiding throwing during practice in that time. Given the performance on the field it would seem that is an accurate report. That was starting only 11 games…that isn’t going to improve starting an additional six games. To top it all off when defense takes away the deep ball from Russ he forces throws and turns the ball over.

The best option for the Steelers is to find the right combination of quarterbacks for both the present, and the future. Meaning, the Steelers need a viable option at quarterback for the next year to two years and take a swing on a young quarterback. In my opinion I think Rodgers serves as the right bridge quarterback for the Steelers. Right now limits turnovers, can read a defense, and would be good enough with the WR room the Steelers now have. Setting his personal issues aside, he is probably the best QB for the right price point the Steelers could get.

Should that not take shape I think the Steelers ride with Mason as an insurance policy, where one of two things happen. Mason is able to be just good enough to let a rookie develop behind him, and maybe even win a playoff game. During his last few games in Pittsbrugh Mason brough the offense back to life. And I would actually be okay giving him a full season. The other possibility is that Mason leads the “tank” that many Steelers fans have been clamoring for, and for the first time in two decades the Steelers have a chance at getting a top 5 quarterback.

As far as which young quarterback I think the Steelers have a few options. I think calling the Patriots about trading for Joe Milton for a 6th or 7th round pick. He is a boom or bust prospect but is worth a swing. He has a big arm, and is mobile. When it comes to the upcoming draft I think the Steelers should swing for Jaxson Dart in the first round or Tyler Shugh in the 3rd or 4th. Shugh is 6’5” 225lbs, mobile, and has a big arm and throws an accurate deep ball. There are some reports that Sanders slides down to the 21st which I do not see happening but if he falls, you have to take him.

On a final note for Steelers fans who roll their eyes at any quarterback suggestions need to take a step back here. When it comes to finding the next franchise quarterback, a big part of it is getting lucky, and throwing things against the wall and seeing what sticks. Drafting a quarterback is a toss up, and you need as many at bats as you can get to find the right guy. Sometimes that means trading for a young guy or drafting someone who isn’t exactly touted as the “can’t miss” or “future franchise” quarterback.

Right now the Steeelers should be in the mindset of finding a FRANCHISE quarterback by any means necessary.