3 reasons the Steelers are wrong by retaining Roethlisberger

Limiting the offense

The Steelers were in a great spot to begin a potential rebuild this offseason. The team could have invested in the best players available, retain as much young talent while releasing some of the older ones, and roll with Mason Rudolph with an eye on the quarterbacks in 2022. Now, the team will likely be forced to reach for either offensive line or running back early even if it isn’t the best player available.

Beyond just this offseason, the new-look offense under Matt Canada will have to cater to Roethlisberger’s regressing arm and lacking mobility. Canada employs a system that is predicated on play-action and the ability to escape the pocket, something Roethlisberger has avoided in recent years with the Steelers. Simply put, Roethlisberger isn’t a strong fit for what Canada wants to run, and it will likely limit the potential of this team next year.

Finally, Roethlisberger saw his deep pass efficiency plummet this past season. While this isn’t the end of the world for a receiver like Dionte Johnson, it severely limits the potential of a player like Chase Claypool and James Washington. Both are typical deep threats who would excel with a stronger arm quarterback. Roethlisberger isn’t that right now, so he could limit the output that the receivers have next season.