Why the Steelers should draft a quarterback in 2021
Quarterback #1
It may be a stretch to assume Trey Lance the quarterback from North Dakota State would be available for the Steelers to snatch unless, perhaps, they trade up to nab him. Trey is the third-highest ranked quarterback in the draft. The Steelers would be fools not to pull the trigger to get him if the opportunity presented itself. Trey’s on-field performances are reminiscent of a young Big Ben. Not only does he have a strong arm, but he also has the knack to extend the play in the same manner Roethlisberger has done throughout his career.
Trey Is 6’4” and 227, almost the same size as Roethlisberger. Here is another similarity. He finished his career with the North Dakota State Bisons with a 17-0 record. Plus, it was NDSU’s 32nd consecutive victory. In his final game as a Bison, he rushed 15 times for 143 yards. In short, he has Roethlisberger’s size, the arm of Roethlisberger, and he runs like Lamar Jackson. If the Steelers drafted him, gave him time to learn under Ben before he takes control of the Steelers’ reins, it’s a delicious thought, to say the least.
Is he as good as the projections? Well, when analyzing the film, it looks like it. Of course, he only has 19 college games to judge his skill as a potential NFL quarterback. That said, In his career at NDSU, he has 2947 passing yards over those 19 games, averaging 224.8 yards per game. Not shabby for only 19 games. Add to that 1325 rushing yards over those 19 games, which comes to 69.7 rushing yards per game. The kid has quick feet.
Other pros for Trey are he is known to chase the ball carrier down on turnovers, he throws excellent passes, and he has good accuracy and a quick release. His cons are he does not protect himself and has sacrificed his body more than he should, and his accuracy is inconsistent at times. That said, let him learn from a veteran quarterback like Roethlisberger; he could become another NFL great.
Given mock drafts have as many as six quarterbacks going in the first round, it seems unlikely Trey the Steelers have a chance of landing him. There are a few other options that could pay dividends, though.