The Steelers will be looking for their first franchise quarterback in nearly two decades, and here is a shortlist of potential suitors for the role.
The Steelers have long been one of the faces of consistency in the, and much of that is in thanks to Ben Roethlisberger’s play for the past 18 seasons. With 2021 likely being his last season, the team will have to hunt for a new quarterback in the offseason. With 2022 set to feature a flurry of potential quarterbacks on the move, Pittsburgh should have a wealth of options to choose from.
This list is built with the idea of who the team would likely start in 2022 based on who is available or likely to be available this offseason. Important to note is that there are no rookies on this list, as even if the team does take a quarterback in the draft, the intent will be not to start them. With all of that said, here are the six most likely quarterbacks to start for the Steelers in 2022.
Steelers could start Dwayne Haskins in 2022
Dwayne Haskins, to this point, has been a relatively unremarkable add for the Steelers. He was signed in the offseason and never had to play. While that is a good thing for a third-string quarterback, it means that the questions he had in the last offseason still exist. That said, he is young, was a first-round pick, and possesses a lot of the traits the team wants in a quarterback.
Haskins possesses a strong arm and that is about it at this point. His accuracy is hit or miss, and his athleticism is mediocre. He can progress through reads on occasion, but he usually forces throws to his first read when under pressure. His off-the-field issues appear to be cleaned up as of now, as there haven’t been reports like the ones he had in Washington.
While he could certainly stick around and compete, I have a hard time seeing him pan out as the next Steelers quarterback. He will be cheap this offseason, as his original round tender should only cost in the neighborhood of 2.5 million dollars. Expect him to be brought to training camp to compete, but the odds of him becoming the starter keep him low on the list.
Steelers could start Drew Lock in 2022
A name that I could really see catch some fire as the draft gets closer, Drew Lock has no guarantees anymore as a player. The Broncos are moving on with a new coach and Lock has shown little to this point in terms of starter potential. The Steelers could be potential suitors if the Broncos were willing to deal Lock on the cheap.
What Lock lacks in proven qualities he makes up for, slightly, in potential. He has a strong arm and is deceptively athletic. For a Steelers team that is focused on having a somewhat athletic quarterback, Lock can move around well and make plays on the ground. His accuracy is average at best, and his decision-making is forced. Lock struggles to progress through reads, and when pressured, he completely falls apart.
While not a top name due to his current bust status, Lock could have enough intrigue to latch on with the Steelers for the final year of his rookie deal. He would cost next to nothing in terms of cap space, and I can’t imagine the Broncos valuing him that much in a trade. More than likely he would amount to little on this team, but on a low-risk trade, the Steelers may try to bring in the former second-round pick.
Steelers could start Mitchell Trubisky
If you take all of the traits mentioned in our first two options and blended them together, you will have what Mitchell Trubisky can offer to a team. Like the names before, Trubisky is a draft bust who will now be looking for a new opportunity after backing up Josh Allen all season. The former top draft pick has a good blend of athleticism and arm strength that makes him appealing to any team that would want him.
His issues lie with his decision-making and ability to make proper reads. It was something that he struggled with while at North Carolina and he never really progressed in either category since. That said, he has flashed the ability to be a good player at times, even securing a Pro Bowl nod in 2018. There are traits that make him a potentially good starter.
Even better is the fact that he just spent the entire season with the Bills, meaning he got to work extensively with Ken Dorsey, their quarterback coach. Many credit him for Allen’s turnaround and considering both are similar players, Trubisky may have learned something during his stay.
While he would be more expensive than either of the names listed before, his deal shouldn’t break the bank. His track record isn’t great, but Trubisky would be a fit for what the Steelers wanted at a good price.
Steelers could start Russell Wilson
Easily the best name on this list, Russell Wilson is a perennial top quarterback in this league that may be looking for a new home this offseason. While the trade market should be filled with quarterback options all varying in talent, Wilson has the best potential to be traded. The Seahawks are coming off a down year, so they may try to rebuild this roster and move on from Wilson.
If the Steelers could afford it, Wilson would easily be a great fit. He has everything that the coaching staff wants in a quarterback. He has the arm strength and touch to complete any pass, makes great reads, and has the mobility to make some moves on the ground if need be. Wilson wouldn’t only be a great fit, but he would be a legitimate upgrade over what Roethlisberger has offered the team in recent seasons.
The issue with Wilson lies in his cost. If he were traded, he would count for roughly 24 million dollars in salary-cap space. That isn’t obscene for a player of his value, but it may be more than the team wants to invest. As well, trading for Wilson will likely start with at least a pair of first-round picks, and more than likely the Seahawks would want more in a bidding war. His expensiveness keeps him lower on the list, but if the Steelers could figure out a way to land him, Wilson is easily the best quarterback the team could start in 2022.
Steelers could start Mason Rudolph
Mason Rudolph has a weird mystique with the Steelers. Despite a fair amount of play for a backup quarterback, it seems like you are either in his fan club and believe he is a good player or he can’t function in an offense. That all said, Rudolph has to be one of the favorites to start this season. The Steelers signed him to an extension keeping him through 2022, so all signs point to him inheriting the reigns as of now.
While he may be the favorite to start right now, it doesn’t mean he is a lock to be the next franchise quarterback. Is he a bad player? No, but he lacks the arm strength and processing to maximize his time under center. For every great pass he makes, he has an equally bad one. Usually, though, his decisions and passes are just middle of the road. He has shown some development while with the team, but nothing to warrant him being labeled as the future.
The reason Rudolph would work well as the starter in 2022 though is because he and the team have essentially nothing to lose. Another big roster turnover is set to occur, so the Steelers will likely not be competing in 2022. Rudolph can have a full season to show what he can do as a starter.
If he does well, he can be tagged and brought back. If he doesn’t, the team is in a good spot to draft a quarterback. While Rudolph shouldn’t be the starter long-term, he is a safe option to start in 2022.
Steelers could start Marcus Mariota
In a normal offseason, Rudolph would top this list with relative ease, as his experience and the “next man up” mentality point to him starting in 2022. That said, the Steelers staff have pointed out multiple times that they want a quarterback with some mobility for the future. While Rudolph isn’t a statue, he certainly doesn’t fit the bill of mobile. That’s why Marcus Mariota makes the most sense for Pittsburgh.
While his time with the Raiders and Titans hasn’t been noteworthy, Mariota will likely get another chance to start during the offseason. His arm strength is fine and his decision-making usually doesn’t get a team in trouble, but he lacked the aggressiveness to be a big contributor while starting with the Titans. Hopefully, two seasons with the Raiders changed that for the veteran.
As well, he is a high-pedigree guy, something the Steelers have desired in their free agents. Like Rudolph, instant success shouldn’t be expected even if Mariota is signed. Instead, he can begin the offense’s transition to having a more athletic quarterback while the rest of the team is built back up. While he and Rudolph would likely have similar successes as starting quarterbacks, Mariota gets the nod due to his far superior athleticism.
The Steelers will be in a position that they haven’t been in for 18 years as they transition to their next quarterback. Luckily for them, there are a slew of potential options that fit what the team is looking for. Of all of the choices though, these six options are easily the best that the team could work with during the 2022 season.