As Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger reaches the end of his career, Pittsburgh has to begin thinking about replacements.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have been fortunate to have a franchise quarterback in Ben Roethlisberger the last 18 seasons, but as we know, all good things must come to an end. While Roethlisberger is still the starting quarterback for Pittsburgh and hasn’t announced any retirement plans, his declining play is evidence enough that the end is near.
At 39 years old, Roethlisberger is no longer the quarterback that can consistently stand in the pocket, shed defenders, and unload a deep ball. The regression is reflected as Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh offense have struggled to generate consistent production.
Considering Roethlisberger’s performance and the one year left on his contract, the Steelers franchise has to begin thinking about his replacement. There’s little reason to believe that the successor is on the roster with Mason Rudolph or Dwayne Haskins, considering what we’ve seen from them and Pittsburgh’s unwillingness to turn to them amid Roethlisberger struggles. This means the Steelers will look to the draft and/or acquire a veteran quarterback via trade or free agency.
With the uncertainty that the draft provides, (positioning, prospect-readiness, etc.), franchises usually try to hedge their gambles by bringing in a veteran to be a bridge quarterback. If that is the route that Pittsburgh takes, they will have a sizeable pool to choose from. Let’s limit that pool and take a look at five realistic, veteran quarterbacks to succeed Roethlisberger.
5. Marcus Mariota
Marcus Mariota, a seven-year vet, is currently the backup quarterback for the Las Vegas Raiders and is set to be a free agent after this season. After starting for four years with the Tennesee Titans, Mariota lost his starting spot to Ryan Tannehill during his fifth season in 2019. He moved on to the Raiders where he has served as a backup for the last two seasons.
Over the last two seasons, Mariota has only seen action in three games, throwing 226 yards, one touchdown, one interception while running for 123 yards, and another touchdown.
Mariota is only 28 years old, and while he may not be the long-term answer for Pittsburgh, he can be brought in at an extremely affordable price and provide a spark with his dual-threat ability. At a relatively young age, Pittsburgh could be a good place for Mariota to continue his growth and carve out a lane for himself as a starter again in this league. This also could give the Steelers a relatively competent quarterback play while they find the future franchise quarterback.