3 free agent quarterbacks who fit what Steelers are looking for after Big Ben

Steelers could pursue Marcus Mariota

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin has made it a point to emphasize the importance of athleticism at the quarterback position on more than one occasion over the course of the season. I don’t think this was a shot at Ben Roethlisberger’s severe lack of mobility; rather, Tomlin was pointing out what an added bonus it is to have a quarterback who can also run with the ball and get outside the pocket.

If this is indeed the type of passer that Pittsburgh is looking for after Roethlisberger, Marcus Mariota is one of the only quality options who fits the bill. As the former second overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, Mariota never panned out the way the Tennesse Titans had hoped, and their team finally took a step forward with Ryan Tannehill.

However, getting Mariota in an offense that would plan to utilize his skill set could be very beneficial to his NFL career. In his final 6 games for the Titans in 2019, before he was replaced, Mariota threw for 7 touchdowns and 2 interceptions while averaging a very respectable 7.8 adjusted yards per attempt.

For the Steelers, Mariota would offer plus mobility and, while his arm talent isn’t spectacular, he has the shot-to-mid accuracy to his receivers on timing patterns. With some willingness to cater the offense to him, Mariota could be a quality stop-gap option.