Steelers could target a Ben Roethlisberger clone at QB in 2022 NFL Draft

Phil Jurkovec shares some remarkable similarities with Ben Roethlisberger. Here’s why the Steelers could target the Boston College QB in the 2022 NFL Draft. 

Ben Roethlisberger has been making headlines for the Pittsburgh Steelers all offseason, as the future Hall of Famer elected to take a massive pay cut in an effort to return to the team in 2021. Because of his age and the way that his contract is structured with voidable years, this could very well be it for Big Ben.

While the Steelers are temporarily four-deep at the quarterback position, they are still searching for a player who really has what it takes to be labeled the next franchise quarterback on one of the NFL’s most storied franchises. Mason Rudolph is the only quarterback signed beyond the 2021 season, and there’s a good chance that Pittsburgh could target the position early in the 2022 NFL Draft.

For the first time since the NFL Draft this past April, I took a deep dive into the 2022 quarterback class and spent hours viewing game film of some of many of the quarterback prospects for next year’s draft. One player particularly stood out to me – this was no doubt because of the eerie resemblance he shares with Ben Roethlisberger.

Phil Jurkovec is a former backup quarterback for Notre Dame and a current starter for Boston College. Jurkovec rarely saw the football field before transferring to BC last season, but he turned heads with a solid performance in his first year as a starter in 2020.

Steelers could show a great deal of interest in Phil Jurkovec

Though Jurkovec didn’t put up elite stats in his 10 career starts, his tools, and play-making ability are what really has me intrigued. At 6’5” and 226 pounds, Jurkovec is a master at maneuvering in the pocket. Though he’s expectedly a bit stiff because of his size, he’s surprisingly nimble and has the ability to shake defenders off with ease when extending the play.

While Jurkovec is a good pocket-passer, things typically go best for him when the play breaks down. The big quarterback directs traffic down the field while slipping tackles and makes one miraculous play on the move after another.

These traits will certainly be desirable for the Steelers if they are serious about looking for their next franchise quarterback in 2022. Additionally, the team is probably already very familiar with Jurkovec. The young quarterback is a Pittsburgh native and has spent time training at the Steelers practice facility.

Now entering his redshirt junior season, Jurkovec is likely to declare for the NFL Draft in 2022 – especially if he has a good season this year. With a big arm and the ability to extend the play, it’s hard not to see Ben Roethlisberger in just about everything he does on the field.

The Steelers have a history of targeting big quarterbacks with big arms, and if they want one who is similar to Big Ben, Phil Jurkovec could be high on their radar next year. Check out some of his game film below!