The Pittsburgh Steelers have four quarterbacks competing for three spots, but should consider keeping all four in 2018.
The Steelers had three quarterbacks when they surprised everyone and drafted Mason Rudolph. We knew that the Steelers needed to draft the heir to Ben Roethlisberger, but we didn’t know it would come this early or in the third round. I believe that the Steelers should break from their tradition of keeping three quarterbacks on the active roster and should carry a fourth.
The Steelers should want to keep Josh Dobbs upside
Many believe that the odd man out now that Mason Rudolph has been drafted is Josh Dobbs. He is only going into his second year and hasn’t shown who he could be. I think he adds a few traits that make him a viable backup in the NFL. He is quick in his release and that is important in a quarterback. He also can move around the pocket. To keep Josh Dobbs would be to keep a promising contributor in the future.
Dobbs if cut, would get a job somewhere else
Josh Dobbs has shown enough that if he were cut by the Steelers, he would get a job playing for another team. Some fans think that the Steelers can just stache Josh Dobbs on the practice squad and then they can pull him back on the roster if they need him. I think another team will scoop him up and put him on their active roster.
Landry Jones is the backup
Some are framing this battle as a battle between Josh Dobbs and Landry Jones with the possibility that Landry Jones gets cut. The only problem with this is that Landry Jones will probably be the backup and they will need him if something happens to Ben Roethlisberger. Landry Jones has experience and has won with the Steelers. This makes him the best option this season if Ben Roethlisberger goes down.
Mason Rudolph can be hidden on the depth chart
The benefit of having three quarterbacks ahead of Mason Rudolph is that you increase your chances of letting Mason Rudolph sit the whole season and you buy more time for Rudolph to get his bearings in the NFL. If Rudolph is the heir to Ben Roethlisberger, you want to give him all the time he needs to develop. Putting him fourth on the depth chart will do just that. Also, it Rudolph shows during the season he is ready for action, all they have to do is move him up the depth chart.
The Steelers will need seven Inactives anyway
The Steelers will have to use one more roster spot to carry four quarterbacks, but it won’t take any gameday actives. The Steelers can still dress just two quarterbacks and make the bottom two inactives. The Steelers will need seven inactives every game anyway.
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The point is that to carry four quarterbacks has a lot of benefits and should be a consideration if all four are healthy going into the regular season.