Steelers need to be prepared if a quarterback falls to them at pick 49

Kevin Colbert has made it clear that he is comfortable with the quarterbacks he has on the roster, but the Steelers need to do their homework just in case.

For reasons I can’t explain, Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert was recently on record saying that he is “comfortable” with his backup quarterbacks heading into 2020. You can check out his statement and my thoughts on his remarks in my previous article.

This may be a smokescreen by Colbert or he could actually believe this. But what happens if a quarterback falls into Pittsburgh’s lap at pick 49? Are they comfortable enough with Mason Rudolph and Devlin Hodges to pass on him?

The answer should be a resounding ‘no.’ Franchise quarterbacks don’t grow on trees, and the Steelers showed just how hard it was to win without one last season. Rudolph and Hodges graded out as two of the three worst quarterbacks in the league in 2019, according to Pro Football Focus, and there is little reason to be confident with them moving forward.

While the Steelers are unlikely to fall into a scenario where they could get Ben’s successor in the second round without trading up, Kevin Colbert and the scouting department still need to do their homework.

Jordan Love, Jacob Eason, and Jake Fromm are all players who have the potential to be long-time NFL starters, and it would be foolish of the Steelers to turn a blind eye to them – despite their closing Super Bowl window.

It’s still too early in the draft process to know which of these players (if any) may be available at pick 49, but the Steelers can’t just leave that up to chance. Based on need, Pittsburgh is likely to address the offensive side of the ball early in the draft – presumably looking for help at tight end, running back or receiver.

While there will be skill players worth taking at pick 49, the Steelers need to consider just how hard it is to find a franchise signal-caller. Pittsburgh went through a two-decade drought without a franchise quarterback between Terry Bradshaw and Ben Roethlisberger, so they should know what it’s like.

If they believe that any player available in the second round has a chance to be Ben’s successor, how could they pass on the opportunity? Roethlisberger’s health is still a major issue at this point, and even if he returns healthy in 2020, the clock is ticking on his career.

Next year’s draft is set to be top-heavy at quarterback with Trevor Lawrence and Justin Fields, but it’s shaping up to be a weak group outside of them. The Steelers are likely to be picking somewhere in the 20’s next April, and it would cost them a king’s ransom to move up to the top of the draft.

I’m not saying that Pittsburgh needs to draft a quarterback if one of these prospects is available to them in the second round. However, it’s crucial that they don’t go into the draft with a mindset that they don’t need a quarterback. That’s the mentality that has gotten them into trouble in the past, and why they were willing to pass on a player like Lamar Jackson for Terrell Edmunds. Let’s hope they don’t repeat the same mistakes.