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Ranking AFC North teams by quarterback situation: Steelers fall to bottom

By Lucas Schuh

CLEVELAND, OH - DECEMBER 22: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens shakes hands with Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns after the game at FirstEnergy Stadium on December 22, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. Baltimore defeated Cleveland 31-15. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - DECEMBER 22: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens shakes hands with Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns after the game at FirstEnergy Stadium on December 22, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. Baltimore defeated Cleveland 31-15. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) /
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Mason Rudolph, Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Mason Rudolph, Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

No. 4 AFC North quarterback situation: Pittsburgh Steelers

Projected Starter: Ben Roethlisberger
Backups: Mason Rudolph, Paxton Lynch, Devlin Hodges

For a long time, the Steelers were able to rely on Ben Roethlisberger’s play but also his durability and willingness to play through injury. That no longer seems to be the case, though. Big Ben was aiming to replicate a league-leading 2018 season last year but left a Week 2 game against Seattle with an injury. That forced him to miss the remainder of the year, turning the keys over the Mason Rudolph and Devlin Hodges.

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Rudolph got the first chance to start and things began relatively poorly for him. He started for the better part of the season as well but he consistently underperformed as the offense grew stagnant. Head coach Mike Tomlin then made a full-time switch in Week 12 (there was a spot start in Week 6), turning to Hodges. Unfortunately, things weren’t much better with Duck at the helm of the offense.

It’s worth noting that Hodges had some moments, including a Week 14 game against Arizona when he completed 84 percent of his throws. The next week, they decided to let him deal a little bit more but that choice backfired. Throwing four interceptions against the Bills, Hodges never found the same mojo that he had early on.

Roethlisberger returning to the field gives the Steelers a good situation with their starter to begin the 2020 season. Having said that, the future of the position is worrisome. Big Ben’s career is in its final chapter at 38 years old and coming off an elbow injury. Rudolph and Hodges don’t appear prepared to take the torch from him.

If Pittsburgh wants to stay afloat in the division, they need to look elsewhere for a quarterback of the future — and they need to do so soon.

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