Does Steelers GM Kevin Colbert have a plan after Ben Roethlisberger?
By Tommy Jaggi
Will the Steelers go with a free agent in 2022?
At this point in his career, Mason Rudolph seems like a longshot to be the starter next season, even though he’s the only quarterback on the team technically under contract. Rudolph has fallen short of expectations time and again and his most recent audition resulted in a 16-16 tie against the Detroit Lions.
It has been rumored that Mike Tomlin doesn’t want to start over with a rookie quarterback and that that team could pursue a veteran passer in free agency. But who?
The list of quality options is razor-thin. According to Over the Cap, the top quarterback who could be available in free agency next year, based on salary, include Teddy Bridgewater, Andy Dalton, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Cam Newton, Jameis Winston, Tyrod Taylor, Marcus Mariota, and Mitch Trubisky. Not exactly the cream of the crop.
If the Steelers are to go with a free agent, a player like Mariota or Trubisky could be on the table. These quarterbacks are younger than most options out there and were former high first-round picks with athletic traits. Perhaps Pittsburgh would try to revive their careers. At the very least, they could be stop-gap starters until the Steelers find a permanent option.