Here are the four developmental quarterbacks the Steelers could target in the 2021 draft
While it seems unlikely that the Steelers take a quarterback in the first round of the draft, there is certainly a surplus of question marks at the position for the team. No matter if Ben Roethlisberger returns next season or not, the team could invest a pick in a quarterback. If they miss out on the first wave of players, adding a developmental prospect later in the draft could be well worth it. They won’t be expected to be contributors early, but eventually, they could take the necessary steps to become starting quarterbacks. Here are the four developmental quarterbacks the Steelers should draft in 2021.
At one point in time, K.J. Costello was the next big thing at quarterback. His sophomore season was successful for Stanford and he had first-round pick written all over him. He suffered through two miserable seasons since then, and now he will lucky to even get drafted. That said, there are still reasons to be hopeful for his career. He possesses great size, a good arm, and decent accuracy. Those traits alone make him an intriguing developmental prospect.
Unfortunately, he has some of the worst pocket awareness in the draft and his decision-making is extremely questionable. He will force balls that he doesn’t need to despite check-down options being available to him. As well, his arm technique can deteriorate, and his mobility is below average. If everything falls into place, he could become a serviceable player. It is a long shot, but Costello could become a decent player if given the necessary time.
While Jamie Newman had first-round hype entering the season, his decision to not play this season has sent his draft stock into a tumble. At this point, his skill set should still get teams interested at the end of the second day and into the third day. The Steelers could pick him if he falls into the fourth given his immense amount of potential.
Newman has a great arm with questionable accuracy. Add in his ability scrambling and Newman has the making of an offensive threat. He displayed this while at Wake Forrest and was set to show it off at Georgia before opting out for the year. Are there risks to taking Newman? Sure, but if given the proper time and put into a system that maximizes his skill set, Newman could become a Cam Newton type of quarterback.
He has a way to go before he should be counted on to start, but if the Steelers can be patient with him, it could pay off once Roethlisberger retires. Early on, he could serve as a sub-package quarterback like Jalen Hurts did earlier this season to maximize his athleticism. A few years from now, Newman could man a run-centric offense that can push the ball deep. He needs a while to work on the nuances of the position, but if in the right scheme, the sky is the limit for Newman.
Kellen Mond has every tool to be a successful quarterback in the league, yet the question marks surrounding his game make him a risky prospect. Mond found success in the SEC, one of the most competitive college leagues, for all four years he was on campus. While he was never the best passer in the league, his natural talent allowed for good success at the college level.
The issue is his pocket presence and decision making though. He can get frazzled when the pocket isn’t clean and his ability to read through his progressions is less than ideal. He won’t be ready to command an NFL offense for at least a few years, but if he focuses on those more technical aspects, he should be able to find success at the professional level.
Mond would be an intriguing fit for the Steelers given his overall talent as a passer. Unfortunately, NFL pockets don’t get any cleaner, so Mond will have to focus on his ability to make a tough read while under pressure. If he can improve upon that aspect of his game, he should be a potential starter down the road. He has all the physical tools, now it is just up to his development as a technical player.
There is no better developmental quarterback in this draft than Feleipe Franks. The former Florida and Arkansas quarterback has a good arm to go along with great size at the position. He struggled early in his career with accuracy, but his previous two seasons showed a huge improvement in that regard. Granted, his 2019 was cut short by injuries, but he was hitting on over 75 percent of his passes. Add in his impressive 68.5 completion percentage this past season and it looks like his accuracy has improved.
While not the specimen that Newman is as a runner, Franks can also move around well in and outside of the pocket. He won’t be a huge threat on the ground, but he can do some damage akin to how Josh Allen has as a pro. Honestly, his tape doesn’t have a lot of apparent weaknesses, but he never really took over in a game. Throw in his lack of team success in college and he does possess some question marks as a pro.
That said, given his likely later-round status, he should be a tempting option for the Steelers in the draft. While he won’t be ready to take over on offense right away, he could progress into a starter by the end of his rookie contract. It is puzzling that his stock is so low right now, as he could very well prove a lot of people wrong once he gets to the pros. His path to starting isn’t clear, but he still has the potential to develop into a starter down the road.
While the Steelers are unlikely to take a quarterback in the first round of the draft, there is a potential that they look for more of a developmental option in the later draft. If the team goes this route, these options are some of the best options overall. The Steelers should have quite a few options if they decide to seek out a developmental quarterback in 2021.