While the talk of the 2022 Steelers is who will be the starting quarterback, expecting a rookie to take the lead seems unlikely right now.
With the Steelers 2021 season having its fair share of offensive issues, many are looking to 2022, and more specifically to the 2022 quarterback draft class.
While the team will eventually have to draft its replacement at quarterback, expecting that to happen in 2022 isn’t a promise. Here are the six reasons the Steelers won’t draft a quarterback in 2022.
Ben Roethlisberger could be back
The unlikeliest of the options, there is still a marginal chance that Ben Roethlisberger returns as the Steelers starter in 2022. While his contract is set to void shortly after the 2021 season, a new deal isn’t out of the question for the veteran. If the team thinks they still can win a Super Bowl with their current roster and Roethlisberger thinks he has another season in him, he may be the team’s first choice in 2022.
While a definite possibility, the start of the 2021 season has cast quite a bit of doubt onto that. Roethlisberger has flashed a better deep ball, but his accuracy and decision-making are definitely down. As well, with a worsened offensive unit around him, Roethlisberger has struggled to be a difference-maker at quarterback.
To say it would be a bad choice to bring back Roethlisberger for one last season isn’t an understatement. The veteran is clearly playing some of his worst football right now, and while he is serviceable as a starter, his skills are going to continue to regress. It would be quite a testament to the team if their first choice is bringing back Roethlisberger for another go in 2022.