NFL Draft: Pittsburgh Steelers Need to Address the Future

The Pittsburgh Steelers have plenty of positions to work on in the 2017 NFL Draft, but one is more important than any.

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With Ben Roethlisberger’s retirement talk, the Pittsburgh Steelers need to address his successor. Even if the future Hall of Famer has a few more years in him, the Steelers can’t hold back from adding their future quarterback to the roster.

The NFL Draft is where the Steelers eye should be. With the amount of talented play callers headed to the pros this offseason, Pittsburgh will have plenty of options to look at. Although they don’t want to sit on a quarterback too long, waiting for the second or third round is a valuable option.

Pittsburgh’s eye seems to be on former Miami Hurricane, Brad Kaaya. Steelers general manager, Kevin Colbert, visited Miami’s Pro Day himself. After watching Kaaya throw for 9,968 yards, 69 touchdowns and 24 interceptions during his college career, Pittsburgh is looking to add him as an option for Roethlisberger’s student.

Kaaya isn’t NFL ready right away. As a projected second or third round draft pick, many experts believe the Miami product is going to need a year or two before he’s starter material. Put him behind one of the NFL’s best for a few years and his potential takes a significant spike.

As a 6’4, 215-pound gunslinger with a massive arm, Kaaya is exactly what the Steelers are looking. Allow Big Ben to teach a player who’s the spitting image of him and the results are going to be successful.

Pittsburgh has already signed Landry Jones and Zach Mettenberger to compete for Roethlisberger’s backup. It’s pretty clear that Jones isn’t the future for the Steelers. Whether or not Mettenberger is the answer is still unknown. As another big quarterback, coach Mike Tomlin may want to give Mettenberger a try.

Stacking their depth chart isn’t a bad idea. Either way, Pittsburgh is going to need a new man under center within the next few years. Having options is what they need to find the right man for the job. If they think Kaaya is the answer, they shouldn’t hesitate to put him in the competition.

Kaaya gets Steelers fan excited. Pittsburgh has a Super Bowl contending team and will stay a contender for years. With a young defense, two of the best offensive weapons in the NFL, and an offensive line that is finally clicking, Pittsburgh’s future is bright.

When Roethlisberger decides his career is over, the Steelers need to be ready to keep their team playoff ready. Letting Kaaya turn into the future will keep this team at the top of the NFL.

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With their second-round pick, preparing for Big Ben’s departure should be top priority. If Kaaya is still on the board, the Steelers should take a chance. The way it looks, he could be the future in Pittsburgh.