Bold predictions: 4 Steelers who leave and 4 who return in 2022

4 Steelers who will return in 2022

1. Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger

Here come all the moans and groans. Sure, Ben is not having a stellar season by any stretch, and sure a lot of people place that on his shoulders. More often than not, Ben does that regardless of whether it’s his fault or not, that’s just who he is. Yes, Ben is in his 17th year, and he is up there in age, 39. Yes, more likely than not, the Steelers may take a quarterback in the 2022 draft, not because they are the next Trevor Lawrence, but mainly out of necessity.

One more factor, Big Ben will be a free agent, and all of that adds up to Ben leaving at the end of the season. That said, here is why Ben could come back. First, he can. He recovered from the elbow injury, and he can still play. Perhaps not at the intensity of his rookie year, but a 17-year veteran can do things and know a lot more than much younger replacements. Second, the retirement rumors frankly have swirled around since at least 2019 and every time he puts the pads back on. Ben is a competitor, the fire in him, while dim, still burns, and he wants to go out on top. Honestly, as long as Tom Brady is out there, it seems that Ben will still try to play. There is no doubt Ben would like to catch Brady, Peyton Manning, and Drew Brees in the records books or come as close as he can.

Plus, we know the Steelers will draft a quarterback. We also know Ben is a team player, restructuring a contract so the Steelers can sign other players, like T.J. Watt. So if that fire is there, he keeps playing while being a mentor to his replacement, or perhaps sign for less as a backup while mentoring his replacement. It would be a win-win situation for the Steelers; Ben stays healthier, and they can call on him if needed, kind of like having an ace up your sleeve. Ben will surprise everyone and return for an 18th season next year.

Will any of this play out as predicted? Possibly, or possibly not. It will be interesting to see how things pan out going into the offseason; a lot of what happens may hinge on how the Steelers finish up in 2021. We shall see.