Why the Steelers should draft a quarterback in 2021

Quarterback #2

Depending on the projections Kyle Trask the quarterback at Florida is fourth or fifth. So depending on where the Steelers draft in 2021, it’s possible he could be available. Could he be the heir apparent to Big Ben is hard to say; however, he has potential.

His draft potential has risen with his performance in 2020. His passing grade has jumped from 66.4 in 2019 to 91.5 in 2020. A lot of teams will consider him. Why not? He is 6’5” and 239. He certainly has the size to excel in the NFL. It’s one of his biggest attributes heading into the draft. He has the ability to be versatile as well. He throws from under center, the shotgun, and the pistol. He has a lot of success on slants and back shoulder vertical routes. He also can look off safeties, not giving them a clue as to where he is going with the ball. He has good instincts as a quarterback.

On the flip side, one criticism is that his throwing mechanics have made him a less accurate passer. He tends to hold on to the ball too long. Some have said his completions end up being more spectacular for what should be a routine pass play. His rushing ability is sub-par due to clunky feet. Compared to Trey Lance, he is not a great rusher. He only has 82 rushing yards on 39 attempts.

That aside, he does have impressive stats. In 2019 and 2020, he has 6184 passing yards on 647 attempts. Over his three years, he has 9.1 yards per attempt and 264.41 yards per game. With 64 touchdowns, he has averaged 2.66 touchdowns per game; no wonder he is in Heisman contention. In 2020 against Ole Miss, he had 30 completions on 42 attempts with 416 yards and six touchdowns. He is only the third player in SEC history to throw for ten touchdowns in his first two games.

Sometimes college success does not translate well into the NFL, especially when compared to other Florida alumni such as Danny Wuerffel and Tim Tebow. Florida quarterbacks have a poor track record in the NFL. Possibly that could happen with Trask. Then again, if drafted and he plays behind Roethlisberger for two seasons, that could give him the time to adjust to the NFL, develop his skills, and lead the Steelers for the next decade.