The Steelers have repeatedly praised Mason Rudolph in public when asked about the team’s quarterback situation. However, they’ve also made it clear they intend to add competition for the starting job this offseason, something which will likely involve being active in free agency. According to Aaron Wilson of Pro Football Network, three QBs the team is targeting are Jameis Winston, Teddy Bridgewater and Mitch Trubisky. 
Winston, 28, is coming off of his first year as the starter in New Orleans, following an up-and-down five year stint in Tampa Bay and one season as Drew Brees‘ understudy. He won five of his seven starts, throwing 14 touchdowns and three interceptions, but suffered a torn ACL and suffered MCL damage on Halloween which ended his season. The former first overall pick could help New Orleans transition out of the Sean Payton era by coming back on what would, presumably, be a relatively affordable deal for the cash-strapped Saints. It was reported recently that the team could be interested in doing just that.
As for Bridgewater, Denver marked his third team in as many seasons. The former Vikings starter also spent time as the backup in New Orleans, but couldn’t find much success as the No. 1 with the Panthers or Broncos. His numbers in Denver – from completion and touchdown percentage, to yards per attempt and rushing averages – were essentially on par with his career figures. The 29-year-old (whose season also ended on IR, due to a concussion) is the most proven commodity of the three listed, and could be an effective stopgap for the Steelers as they search for a more permanent solution.
Lastly, Trubisky spent the 2021 campaign as Josh Allen‘s backup in Buffalo. Despite a Pro Bowl season in 2018, his second in the league, he will forever be tied to the fact he was taken second overall in 2017 ahead of the likes of Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson. Without having developed as expected in Chicago, he found himself without a starting gig this past year, and threw only eight pass attempts. Like Winston, though, there is an appetite for the 27-year-old to re-sign with his current team.
As Wilson notes, and had been reported during the Senior Bowl, the Steelers are thought to like Liberty QB Malik Willis. He might have the best physical traits in this year’s class, though he is also said to be the least NFL-ready amongst potential first-rounders. Pairing him with one of these three veterans could add healthy competition to Pittsburgh’s in-house options, and increase their chances of finding Ben Roethlisberger‘s long-term successor.
Unless Willis or Pickett fall to them, I don’t want to draft a qb. I don’t want to trade anything major for one either. These 3 are the type of level qbs I want while the line gets built and depth players are added. Go all in next year for a qb. Still want Tyler Huntley for this season though
This years QB class is very weak. No first round talents from what I’ve heard. Yet they’ll be teams reaching to take a few in the first round. Steelers are better suited trading for one of the 3 mentioned
What’s wrong with Ian Book? Why even draft him if you won’t give him a chance?
Neither of those guys is exactly hall of fame level QBs, but they’re both currently nice improvements on the last three years or so of Big Ben.
Ooof
Hey, I didn’t say that was a very high bar (and I said that before I noticed Trubisky was mentioned).
Haha. All good. I just don’t want to break the bank for anyone
I mean, if it’s one of those guys, I sure hope you’re not spending more than low-end starter/bridge QB money.
That’s a pretty ugly list of guys, might as well let Haskins or Rudolph stink it up instead of spending money on any of these stiffs.
Couldn’t agree more. Then you can draft next year and see how good your front office really is.
I would be shocked if Bridgewater didn’t end up in New Orleans, but I think a lot of that has to do with whether or not Winston returns. The question for me is whether or not the Saints would sign both of those guys, given each’s injury history, as alternates while they figure out a long term answer. Are they hoping Payton comes back? Do they plug some holes in the meantime, or do they begin changing the long term makeup of the team?
Putting all actual football reasons aside, I might have to root for them to get Mitch Trubisky.
That is the PERFECT name for a Yinzer accent.
You have a young offence with some good weapons. Najee Harris, Chase Claypool, Diontae Johnson, Pat Freiermuth. Surely the obvious decision is to draft someone and let this offence build. The defence is great and will you games but the offence is still developing.
What makes the most sense would be holding for someone to fall in the draft and then have said person come in and battle with Rudolph for the starting position. If you don’t like any of the options when it’s your turn in the draft then wait for FA to come. Grab someone on a 1 year deal and then wait for the draft again next year.
The offense has good weapons at certain spots, but it is deficient at others. The jury’s still out on the receivers, as Claypool is up and down but has potential and Johnson lacks the size to be a contested catch threat. Freiermuth and Harris look solid, but by far and away that offensive line is a glaring hole. People complain about Ben, but he made that line look much better than it was by throwing extremely quickly and adjusting protections. Even then, it still looked abjectly awful.
I don’t think that you can count on a rookie or even a less experienced veteran to have a chance in this offense as it currently is constructed. The Steelers really must look towards fixing their line and acquiring at least one more tough catch option before they throw someone new behind that offense.
I think Ben was very old and washed. His arm was weak, lacked accuracy and mobility.
I think going in a new direction getting in a QB that can brighten the place up would be huge. Even if the line is trash and things aren’t perfect someone that installs some belief. Look at Joe with the Bengals, terrible o line but just his energy and attitude made the place so much better. I think you get in someone young and then all those young guys on the offence start to build some chemistry and okay better. Then look to address the o line.
All those things are true. And Big Ben still made that line look better. All truly elite QBs have the ability to help their line by identifying defensive looks and getting the ball out quickly. Ben is years removed from the days when he was considered elite, but he didn’t just forget how to run an offense. And he got the ball out at the fastest pace in the league the last three years-one of the fastest rates ever, in fact. That pace certainly limited the downfield opportunities present, but the line really gave the Steelers little choice.
Pittsburgh certainly needs a new QB, but unless that line is fixed, he is going to be in for a tougher time than most would expect.
Ak185: I completely agree w you. For everyone who complained about Ben’s lack of atm strength the past couple of years his fast release kept him & the offense moving despite the putrid offensive line play. I don’t want or expect a franchise QB this season. Address the O-line thru
free agency, address the O-line thru the draft, get a serviceable (+/- average) QB to lead the offense this year, shore up the secondary. If those needs are met (addressed) they’ll be competing for at least a wildcard spot.
The new QB must have the willingness to assault females, throw teammates under the bus, not accept any of the blame, and finally want to be in the league far too long and become an embarrassment if not already one.
Reading this list put together by you made me dumber. Boy you really hate Ben don’t you?
He has this list of complaints bookmarked, as well as one for Aaron Rodgers, Dan Campbell, and a couple of other targets.
That’s definitely a rough list. Might as well just roll with a guy who’s already on the roster and spend that money elsewhere. Not winning anything next season with (or without) any of those names anyway.
None of those guys are that much of abandon improvement over Rudolph who is 5-4-1 in his young career.
So they are probably NOT going to try to draft one. Interesting; I would have thought they’d take their hand on another homegrown talent right out of college, then if they fail pawn them similarly to what the Cards did with Rosen when Murray was there.
None of the QBs the Steelers are targeting offer a long term solution but the helmet swinging competition to match Rudolph should be rather interesting.
Better to just let Mason get battered next season as a placeholder for the next franchise QB we draft in 1-2 seasons. Although, I expect Haskins to get time in there as starter too.
I know Bridgewater had success with Saints throwing 190 yard games and reviling on the run game… but Jameis Winston was getting it done and that’s without them opening up the deep game. Imagine what the Saints could do once they open up the playbook.
I see your point, but we also must consider what that Saints offense would look like without Michael Thomas in his prime. They could really use a couple of receivers, no matter who they start, and certainly some deep threats if they’d like to truly open it up.
Competition is a strong word.
As a Ravens fan, this is music to my ears!
I echo your thoughts as a Bengals fan. I love the AFC North … it’s always a battle. I have much respect for each team in the division. I wasn’t a big fan of Ben but wish him the best. Not because of his talent as he is a clear HOF’er … just didn’t like his attitude and I do think he played a couple years too long ..
I like Lamar but running QBs don’t have a long life span in the NFL. Baker needs to focus more on football than his commercials. Baker is grossly overrated.
If Trubisky goes to the Steelers then he is automatically the second best QB in the division behind Burrow.
Winston will re-sign with New Orleans.
Not that it will happen, but with the team the Steelers currently have, it’s not a rebuild moment…yet. Getting a Russell Wilson (and pay heavily in draft picks for the next couple of years) would squeeze 2-3 more years out of this team before a reboot is required. Certainly don’t want to waste the talents of Watt, Hayward, Fitz, and the kids on offense.
And yet, some want just that.
“The Stillers need to just give the keys to the car to Mason, let him drive it into a brick wall, call up Geico, say it was a deer, boom, franchise QB and Super Bowl 7!”