6 quarterbacks the Steelers could trade for if Ben Roethlisberger is done
By Tommy Jaggi
Jimmy Garoppolo
Jimmy Garoppolo has been rather underwhelming since being traded to the 49ers in 2017. Still, his 24-8 record is quite impressive and he is just a year removed from a 13-3 record and a Super Bowl appearance. Though Garoppolo doesn’t have a ton of tools, there are going to be some teams interested in him if San Fransico makes him available.
Garoppolo is set to make over $26.5 million per season over the final two years of his contract, which is a manageable number for a starting quarterback. If Ben Roethlisberger was cut or decided to retire, the Steelers would just need to make up the difference of $7 million this year, and Pittsburgh is set to have the most cap space in the league in 2022, according to Over the Cap.
Jimmy Garoppolo may not have any special traits, but he is used to winning and his 8.2 career yards per attempt is a thoroughly impressive statistic – even if he is just a game manager. With an excellent defense, Garoppolo could position the Steelers for a handful of playoff runs in the immediate future.
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At the end of the day, any of these trades are only possible if the Steelers elect to cut ties with Ben Roethlisberger. Though a Big Ben return still seems like the most likely solution, it is far from guaranteed at this point. If he doesn’t come back, trading for a veteran who can help Pittsburgh win now is a very realistic option.