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Why the Steelers will not draft a quarterback in the 2020 NFL Draft

By Beau McCauley

Mason Rudolph #2 (C) of the Pittsburgh Steelers Devlin Hodges Ben Roethlisberger (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Mason Rudolph #2 (C) of the Pittsburgh Steelers Devlin Hodges Ben Roethlisberger (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – DECEMBER 22: Mason Rudolph #2 of the Pittsburgh Steelers attempts a pass against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on December 22, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – DECEMBER 22: Mason Rudolph #2 of the Pittsburgh Steelers attempts a pass against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on December 22, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images) /

Youth in the Quarterback Room

Kevin Colbert stated at the NFL Combine that they will not be pursuing a quarterback to put in the mix for 2020. This brings us to what to look forward to for the upcoming quarterback battle.

The current favorite to back up Ben Roethlisberger this season is Mason Rudolph. It does not take much time watching Rudolph’s film to realize he has a lot to work on. He lacks mobility in the pocket, arm strength, and elite accuracy.

However, a 5-3 record as a starter shows that he doesn’t have to be Big Ben to keep his head above water. According to Pro Football Reference, Rudolph recorded 1765 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions with a 62% completion percentage. His play style may be lackluster but the numbers show that he is not the worst backup option for Roethlisberger. After investing a third-round pick in Rudolph it would be foolish not to see if he can take the next step in 2020.

Last year, undrafted quarterback Devlin Hodges stole the hearts of Steelers fans worldwide. Nicknamed “Duck” for his duck calling skills, he was the fan favorite to fill in for Roethlisberger. Duck was mobile and could make things happen if a play broke down, unlike Rudolph. However, like Rudolph lacks the big arm for the tough throws.

According to Pro Football Reference, Hodges threw for 1063 yards, five touchdowns, and eight interceptions with a 62% completion percentage. Hodges’ interceptions mainly came from not putting enough on his throws into tight coverages. Especially, the deeper thrown balls over 20 yards. Hodges is going to have another uphill battle when competition starts again.

Two guys on cheap deals that could make a splash in training camp are quarterbacks Paxton Lynch and J.T. Barrett. Both guys are long shots but will be looking to nudge Hodges out of his number three spot. Lynch is a former first-round pick out of Memphis University that fizzled out of shots in Seattle and Denver.

Barrett is most recognized from his time leading the Ohio State Buckeyes for three out of four years. Barrett went undrafted and has bounced around from practice squad to practice squad. Barrett is a dual-threat player – making him a wildcard heading into this season.

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