5 quarterbacks who could succeed Ben Roethlisberger for Steelers
By Brendan Howe
Jameis Winston
It’s hard to debate Jameis Winston’s vital role in the most publicized employment decision of this past offseason.
If not for so many miscues, Winston might have snuck the Tampa Bay Buccaneers into the postseason last year. He would have garnered considerably more praise without any subsequent contesting claim and, if one wanted to dig further into a rabbit hole, may have been able to stave off the front office’s choice to bring Tom Brady aboard.
As we know, none of that happened. Winston joined the former division-rival Saints on a team-friendly one-year, $1.1 million deal to fill out New Orleans’ depth chart. Given Sean Payton’s partiality toward jack-of-all-trades Taysom Hill, whether it be because of his kind salary or honest curiosity of the 30-year-old’s potential, it doesn’t appear, at this point in time anyway, that Winston will succeed Drew Brees in the Crescent City.
Despite being able only to steer Tampa to a 7-9 record in 2019, his last full season as a starter, Winston showed the aptitude and durability of an above-average signal-caller. He set career highs in completions (380), attempts (626), and passing touchdowns (33.)
Winston’s downside is, to put it simply, well-documented. He led the league in giveaways last season with 35. His ball security could very well be another reason that Payton, holding dearly to the NFC’s first seed, elected to field Hill instead.
However, Winston did pace the NFL in passing yards and passing yards per game in 2019. A Heisman Trophy winner and no. 1 overall draft choice, Winston is also one of only eight quarterbacks in league history to eclipse 5,000 yards in a campaign.
With what looks to be an impressive draft class at the passing position, it’s possible that the Steelers, presumably choosing later in the round, might be able to instead grab a proven veteran for an inexpensive price.