With the Steelers needing a new quarterback, here is a ranking of the seven most likely options to be the team’s new quarterback in 2022.
Ben Roethlisberger is likely to retire after the 2021 season, and the Steelers will be looking for a new quarterback to start. While the team has options on the roster, they can also look to the draft and free agency to get their next quarterback.
While the list of potential starters could be extremely long, I think it comes down to seven total players. Here is a ranking of the seven most realistic quarterback options for the Steelers in 2022.
Steelers could start Trubisky
Of the seven names I have compiled, Mitchell Trubisky makes some sense for the team, but he seems like the least likely option for the Steelers. Trubisky flamed out with the Bears after being a top quarterback in his class and has since moved on to being the backup on the Bills. He looked good there in the preseason, but he still has a lot of flaws and has proven very little on Sundays as a professional.
That said, he has a lot of the traits that the Steelers covet in a quarterback. He was a high draft pick and has the mobility and arm strength that the team likes in their quarterbacks. If his decision-making has improved at all, he could work as a short-term starter. That said, there are too many questions with Trubisky to put him any higher on this list. There is a chance, but I wouldn’t count on it for 2022.
Steelers could start Haskins
The bottom two of this list could essentially be swapped if you so desired, as both are former first-round busts that make some semblance of sense for the team in a new era of quarterback. Dwayne Haskins has done next to nothing with the Steelers this season. For most weeks he has been inactive, and the few times he has gotten a helmet he hasn’t played.
Haskins possesses a strong arm and that is about it at this point. His accuracy is hit or miss and his athleticism is mediocre. He can progress through reads on occasion but he usually forces throws to his first read when under pressure. His off-the-field issues appear to be cleaned up as of now, as there haven’t been reports like the ones he had in Washington.
While Trubisky may be the slightly better option based on the development of both, Haskins gets the nod due to him spending all of 2021 with the team. Matt Canada, like it or not, will probably be the offensive coordinator once again, so Haskins knowing the offense gives him an edge. All of that said, the Steelers would clearly be tanking for a top pick if they decided to use one of these two players as their starting quarterback in 2022.
The Steelers could start Taylor
The oldest name on this list, Tyrod Taylor has had quite a career. He had his surprise starting gig with the Bills and has since carved out a career as a journeyman starter. Everywhere he goes he seems to win the starting role while a rookie bides their time behind him. Despite being older, he still has good mobility and can manage a game behind a decent team.
Signing Taylor would be the ultimate “set up for the rebuild”, as his best days are clearly behind him. Sure, he can start in a pinch, but he shouldn’t be counted on to deliver too many wins for whoever he plays for. If the team has a player, they want to develop though for a few games to even the whole season though, Taylor makes sense.
If the Steelers just add a veteran, then Taylor isn’t a great option. His injuries are piling up, so expecting him to start all season would be risky. If the team did decide to draft a quarterback early though, having Taylor start could give the rookie time to develop. He beats out the other names to this point due to his experience, but he would still be a lackluster option if counted on.
Steelers could start Brissett
Now the list starts to turn to a more serious note. Jacoby Brissett hasn’t been a great starter to this point in his career, but he has been a dependable player that can make plays on the ground as well as through the air. He isn’t the most mobile option, but considering his size, he moves well enough. He was brought in last year for the Colts whenever they wanted a more mobile quarterback than Philip Rivers.
Brissett has seen some action as an injury replacement for the Dolphins this season. He was a stereotypical game manager, going 2-3 overall. Add in his 1300 passing yards and it was a fine, not great run for the veteran. The same can and should be expected if the Steelers were to add. Don’t expect an electric season, but a lesser version of his 2019 campaign (3000 yards and 22 total scores) would seem plausible.
While he would certainly be more expensive than any of the other options to this point, he would also likely be able to be signed to a multi-year deal. Two seasons with Brissett under contract would give them a chance to go after a top rookie in 2023. Even then, Brissett would still be around to start for one more season if the rookie needed some time to develop. He would be a clear step up from the rest of the options so far mentioned on this list.
Steelers could start Howell
The only rookie on this list, Sam Howell has all of the makings of a franchise quarterback based on raw talent alone. He has a good arm, good accuracy, and has great athleticism in and out of the pocket. While the 2021 draft class is extremely weak, Howell has the chance to be one of the best passers in the class. If the Steelers decide to go after a rookie in this draft, Howell checks the most boxes.
He had a down season as a passer in 2021, as most of his offensive weapons departed the year before. Suddenly the offense completely ran through him (literally), and while his passing numbers regressed, his rushing numbers exploded. The biggest issue in his game is his decision-making. He struggles to get past his first read, and this leads to forced throws or him taking off to run too early.
Now, the Steelers have stated that they don’t want to start a rookie quarterback in 2022, but if they did decide to go that route, Howell makes the most sense. Ultimately, I think the team looks elsewhere this offseason, but if they decide they want a rookie, Howell makes the most sense. He fits what the team wants in their next quarterback and would be a developmental option for the long-term sake of the franchise.
Steelers could start Rudolph
A name that everyone knows and most dislike, Mason Rudolph enters the 2022 offseason as the most likely starter on the team. The reasoning is pretty simple: the Steelers signed Rudolph to a one-year extension last season to keep him under contract through 2022. He is the only quarterback under contract right now, and the team is very familiar with Rudolph as he will enter his fifth season with the team.
All of that said, he has shown that he doesn’t have what it takes to be a franchise quarterback in this league. Is he a bad player? No, but he lacks the arm strength and processing to maximize his time under center. For every great pass he makes, he has an equally bad one. Usually, though, his decisions and passes are just middle of the road.
While his ability to be a franchise quarterback isn’t great, he can easily hold down the fort for a year or two as the team tries to build up the rest of the team around him. With so many needs this offseason, they may role with the known entity and bank on landing a high enough pick to get their quarterback in 2023. While Rudolph is an extremely likely starter next season, there is one name that makes more sense.
Steelers could start Mariota
Anyone that has followed along with what I have written has seen Marcus Mariota jump up my board as a likely starter for the Steelers next season. This isn’t due to Mariota being some sort of a rare talent (he isn’t), but he possesses what the team wants in their next quarterback. He can make all of the passes needed as a professional and more importantly, he has great athleticism and can make plays on the ground.
The Steelers have been clear with their desire to find a more mobile quarterback moving forward. They want someone who can move around in the pocket and pick up yards on the ground when needed. This doesn’t have to be a Lamar Jackson-type, but they at least want a guy that can be the threat to move the ball on the ground.
Mariota would provide just that. As well, he is a high-pedigree guy, something the Steelers have desired in their free agents. Like Rudolph, instant success shouldn’t be expected even if Mariota is signed. Instead, he can begin the offense’s transition to having a more athletic quarterback while the rest of the team is built back up. He gets the non as the most likely quarterback because of his athleticism.
The Steelers will likely be looking for their next quarterback in the offseason, and while the list is expansive, the options aren’t elite. That said, the team has plenty of holes they will need to address this offseason, so finding a bridge quarterback allows other holes to be filled. Of all the names out there, these seven names make the most sense for the team in 2022.