The Steelers search for a new signal-caller is just about to begin and these top quarterback prospects could be a target in the draft.
The Pittsburgh Steelers will enter next season with a new starting quarterback after Ben Roethlisberger walks away from the game. The veteran got the team to the playoffs but his age is showing with his loss of abilities and efficient play. His time will be done and a new-age at the position will be magnified heading into the offseason.
Rumors have swirled that the black and gold could look for a veteran option in 2022 but the draft is another viable plan. There are some interesting names out there but this class is not the strongest. Most of these prospects coming out of college have their individual question marks.
This will be a major need for Pittsburgh as a quarterback is the most important position in all of football. There are a ton of other needs but they will have all their focus on this position, especially if it is not addressed in the free agency period of the offseason.
Honorable mentions
Desmond Ridder, QB, Cincinnati
Desmond Ridder is a boom or bust candidate coming out of a small program that had a huge year and made it into the college football playoffs. Ridder was a big reason for this program’s ascension, including playing well against bigger programs like Notre Dame. He is currently projected as a second or third-round prospect.
He did play against lesser competition for the most part so that will affect his draft stock negatively as well. His major problem is his lack of consistency with accurately passing the football. Ridder needs to improve that at the next level, if he can accomplish that then he will be a solid starter in the NFL.
Sam Howell, QB, North Carolina
Sam Howell was expected to be the top prospect in this crop of quarterbacks heading into this season. Unfortunately for him and his program, they had a down year. Howell put up great numbers the two seasons before this one, but this past season, he put his draft stock into question.
The Steelers have been connected to him throughout the college season with the number of scouting hours they have put into him. He had a bunch of issues in 2021 that could scare away teams and many compare him to Baker Mayfield. He is currently projected as a late first to early second-round selection.
Malik Willis, QB, Liberty
The Steelers could be interested in Willis since he is more of a developmental prospect that they could bring along slowly. Most teams want instant results from their first-round selection but a player like this one would need some time to learn and develop behind another player. The Steelers have been straying away from the sit-and-develop policy lately but they could go back to that way of thinking with a quarterback.
It seems like this Liberty product will be selected high in the draft and could go sometime in the top 10. The black and gold might have to spend some draft capital to move up and select a prospect with a bunch of upside like this one.
He has all the physical traits that every NFL team looks for in a dynamic signal-caller. He has a strong arm that can sling the ball anywhere on the field. He is also a threat as a runner, which he showed during his two seasons at Liberty. He totaled nearly 2,000 rushing yards split between 2020 and 2021, during that same span he totaled over 5,000 passing yards.
Willis is currently expected to go at some point in the first round, though it’s hard to say where exactly this early in the process. He has a lot of work to do before he is a contributor for his new team that selects him. He has the biggest upside of any quarterback in this class.
Kenny Pickett, QB, Pittsburgh
Kenny Pickett was the biggest riser for this group of quarterbacks. He could’ve left the University of Pittsburgh after last season but he decided to return. He might have been a mid-round selection if he entered the draft in 2020. Pickett went back to Pitt and that decision paid off.
The fast-riser is now in discussion to be one of the top quarterbacks taken in this draft. He is probably the most steady and consistent out of the group. His one year of massive production was impressive enough to give him a Heisman nomination but that could be concerning since it was just for one season.
Pickett worked on his game and improved and that is nice to see in a prospect and teams will choose him in the top 20 of this upcoming 2022 event. He will likely go higher as long as he tests well. He completely turned around the Pitt program and the Steel City would love the idea of keeping him home with the Steelers selecting him.
The biggest issue with this player is that one year of massive production even though it was impressive. His other issue is the lack of deep ball that he doesn’t possess. He keeps his range from short to the middle of the field. If he can grow his arm strength to move the ball further down the field then that will make him an even stronger starter at the next level.
Matt Corral, QB, Mississippi
Matt Corral is my top player in 2022 for his position. He had a scare during his bowl game as many were concerned that he might have a draft-altering injury to his leg. The scans came back negative, reportedly, and many expect him to be the first selected when a team needs a quarterback.
This Ole Miss product is gifted with his physical abilities as he has nice arm strength and runs the football like a downhill running back. He would be an interesting wrinkle into the Steelers deflated offense but he will be gone by the time they select a player. He is expected to be a top-15 selection at the worst, he could be chosen higher.
Quarterbacks are always the prospects that teams trade up for and select higher than maybe some might project. Corral could shake up the order of this draft as a quarterback desperate team will rely on this player to contribute immediately to their franchise. He is the most complete prospect out of this group.
Corral has all the tools to be successful in the NFL and many teams will want this player. He could cause the dominos to fall and create a stir of trades once he is selected. Teams should expect this player to go within the top five picks or so as a team will bite and trade up to nab their franchise player.
The Steelers will begin their search for Ben Roethlisberger’s replacement immediately and these names will be some to monitor. Keep a close eye on these names as the offseason kicks into high gear soon.