The Steelers will be looking for a new quarterback in 2022, and they may opt to scrape the bottom of the barrel with one of these budget players.
The Steelers are set to move on from Ben Roethlisberger this offseason, and with that, the team will be on the hunt for their next great quarterback. If they aren’t set on any of the big names in free agency or the draft, they could opt for a budget option that won’t be a strain on cap space and sets them up to land a top quarterback in 2022.
Here are five budget quarterbacks the Steelers could start in 2022.
Steelers could start Glennon
Probably the least appealing name on this list, opting to sign and start Mike Glennon would be an open admission that this team is tanking for a top rookie in 2023. Glennon’s career at one point held some promise, but consistent mediocrity caused him to become no more than a marginal backup.
While not a great name, he will almost certainly be a cheap one. His average (at best) performances as the Giants starter this season has once again shown his ineptitude as a quarterback. While he possesses an ok arm, his accuracy never developed to where it needs to be. Worse yet, he needs a clean pocket to make most of his throws.
If it seems like I’m putting down Glennon as a starter, you are right. At this point, a team starting him is openly stating that they aren’t going to compete in 2022. The Steelers are at that point though, so Glennon could be a cheap interim starter as the team shoots to sort out the quarterback position in 2023. He would be a sub-par starter, but the team may opt to go as cheap as they can with their quarterback in 2022.
Steelers could start Purdy
If the Steelers wanted to find a rookie to stream but not commit to long-term, Brock Purdy may be their best bet. The Iowa State quarterback has experienced a lot of success at the college level, but the below-average size and no defining trait make him a probable backup at best at the next level. That said, Purdy is a proven winner in college, and he gives the team his all on every play.
Purdy is a likely mid-late day three pick in this draft class. That means the Steelers would only have to make a minimal investment in order to bring him in. Starting a late-round quarterback is rarely the path to success in the NFL, but Pittsburgh could give him a shot and keep their eye on the 2023 quarterback class in the meantime.
Purdy’s limitations will likely make him an average-below average starter, but for a season or two as a transitional player, the team could do much worse. His play is reminiscent of another on this list, and I wouldn’t be shocked to see a similar career arch for him once he gets drafted. It likely wouldn’t yield long-term results, but Purdy could start in a pinch for a team looking to be in a good position to draft a quarterback.
Steelers could start Siemian
If the Steelers want a slight upgrade over the names previously mentioned on this list, they will try and get Trevor Siemian in free agency. The former Broncos starter, Siemian almost saw his NFL career fade as he struggled to remain on a team. Then he was thrust into the Saints starting job and did ok for himself. While not a dynamic passer, he did boast an 11-3 touchdown to interception ratio this season.
While his days as the potential Broncos franchise quarterback are long behind him, Siemian reminded the league that he can function on a decent offense. Far from an elite passer, Siemian can command an offense to marginal success if given the chance to. While expecting him to win your games would be unwise, he can still be an effective transitional quarterback at this point.
While Siemian looked ok with the Saints this season, it seems unlikely that he will be viewed as a starter for most teams. That said, if the Steelers are committed to a transitional quarterback, Siemian would make a lot of sense. He won’t cost much more than the minimum and would be another name to throw into the quarterback ring. Siemian is about as average as they come, but he could work for a single season.
Steelers could start Trubisky
A name that makes a lot of sense, Mitchell Trubisky checks off a lot of boxes for what the Steelers are looking for in a quarterback. He spent all of last season as Josh Allen’s backup and now will likely look to find a starting gig once again. He has the pedigree, arm strength, and mobility that the Steelers want, now it’s just a matter of him finally living up to his potential.
Trubisky was a classic case of a quarterback not developing at the next level. He was a raw processor coming out of college who got by on his physical traits. He had some mild success in the NFL doing the same, but ultimately, he was never a consistent starter. A year as a backup with the Bills hopefully helped, as Allen had similar issues but was coached up and is now one of the best players in the league.
Will Trubisky make that same jump? Probably not, but he does deserve another chance to prove himself. As a pending free agent, one has to think his contract will likely go up a little bit (teams were reportedly trying to sign him last offseason to start), but it should still be well below what a starting quarterback is making. He fits the mold of the team’s next franchise quarterback and he could be a cheap reclamation project if the Steelers are willing to give him a shot.
Steelers could start Minshew
The man who once took the NFL by storm, Gardner Minshew is such a weird player. He is the epitome of a “jack of all traits” quarterback, as most of his basic attributes are just average. He has this enigma about him though, as he seems to rally players and keep bad teams competitive. His ability to win is impressive for a quarterback that is lacking as he is.
The reason he fits so well is that the Steelers won’t be fielding a competitive roster next season. Even with the cap space they have to spend, there will be far too many holes on this roster to be seen as a truly good team. Adding Minshew would allow them to get the most out of their offense though. He can make any throw necessary and moves around well enough for the team to do what they want to do on offense.
The biggest issue with him isn’t the money aspect. He is in the final year of his deal and his contract should be very reasonable. The issue is the Eagles currently have him on their roster and would have to trade him. They acquired him for a late-round pick, but it is yet to be seen how willing they are to move him. Assuming they don’t want anything significant for him, Minshew would be a cheap fill-in at quarterback in 2022.
The Steelers will be on the hunt for a new quarterback in 2022, and all options should be on the table. If the team decides to wait until 2023 to get their next franchise guy, adding a cheap fill-in makes sense. While none of these five options are stars, each are cheap streamer options the team could use in 2022.