4 reasons the Steelers shouldn’t draft a 1st round QB in 2021

The offense isn’t ready for a rookie

This is probably the biggest reason the Steelers should shy away from a first-round quarterback next offseason. While this offense has a decent group of receivers, there are still quite a few questions elsewhere on offense. The line is aging and is set to lose some key pieces during free agency. The team is utterly void of a running game, and the tight ends are horribly inefficient. This offense has holes, and it can make life for a rookie quarterback far harder.

Take Joe Burrow this year. While his play looked solid, he was hindered by a bad supporting cast on offense. He made his receivers look good, but the lack of a running game severely inhibited his game. Worse yet, their offensive line looked like a turnstile, and the constant abuse he took eventually ended his season. Now, the team is just hoping there isn’t any long-term ramifications from the gruesome injury he suffered.

If the Steelers invest their top pick in a quarterback, he will be entering an offense that still has a lot of holes on it. Instead, the team could use the 2020 draft to shore up the running game, the line, and maybe even find a new tight end for a rookie quarterback to use in 2022. While an offense will never be without holes, adding as much talent this season so they can develop before the rookie enters the fold is a must.

All of this isn’t to say that the Steelers are set at quarterback. They aren’t, but the team has bigger issues than settling for a later first-round quarterback in the draft. The team could settle for a season with Rudolph, take the higher pick, and find their new quarterback in 2022. Meanwhile, the Steelers could use this draft to give that future rookie the best supporting cast they can. Unless an unexpected talent falls to the team in the first this year, the team should look to build the overall roster before adding their future quarterback.