With the Senior Bowl wrapped up, here is an updated ranking of the Steelers’ potential quarterbacks in 2022.
The Senior Bowl has come and gone, and a lot has surfaced about the Steelers’ intention at quarterback. Despite the team reportedly favoring a veteran quarterback, the team was all over a few of the upcoming rookies.
With the quarterback position essentially wide open right now on this team, updated rankings that now take into account what occurred at the Senior Bowl seems fair.
Steelers are missing two notable names
There are two names that I think are worth talking about that don’t make this list. The first is Dwayne Haskins. The veteran quarterback spent the entire season with the Steelers last season, and that honestly is notable. While he never played a snap, the team felt the need to keep him, indicating that has matured enough to not warrant being cut. I expect him to be brought back, but the odds of him starting seem slim.
The other missing name is Kenny Pickett. While there are numerous reports that the Steelers will take Pickett if available, I can’t envision a scenario where he is available to this team. He seems like a safe lock to go in the top-ten, and his Senior Bowl performance backs that up. While the team may be interested in acquiring the rookie, the odds of him making it to pick 20 seem long. That all said, here is a new ranking for the Steelers’ potential quarterbacks for 2022 after the Senior Bowl.
Steelers may start Trubisky
While the narrative is now shifting from a veteran starting to a rookie possibly getting the nod, Mitchell Trubisky is a name that makes far too much sense for the team to pass over. If the Steelers are set to roll with a veteran and set themselves up for taking a quarterback in 2023, Trubisky makes a lot of sense.
The veteran flamed out with the Bears before having a quiet season as the Bills’ backup. There is some reported interest in him as he prepares to enter free agency once again, as the veteran has a great arm and is competent at making plays with his legs. That said, his decision-making and accuracy have left a lot to be desired, and those traits haven’t progressed much since his rookie season.
If the Steelers wanted a cheap option who fits what the team wants in a future franchise quarterback, Trubisky makes sense. His next contract certainly won’t break the bank and the team could bring him in for a season to see if he is progressing at all. Worst comes to worst he hasn’t and suddenly Pittsburgh has a top pick in the draft. He isn’t a flashy name, but he is still deserving of consideration here.
Steelers may start Garoppolo
Another report that has made the rounds is that the Steelers are extremely interested in Jimmy Garoppolo. The veteran of the 49ers is expected to be traded so Trey Lance can start in 2022, and his market figures to be a competitive one. While Garoppolo isn’t an elite quarterback, he is a safe and efficient one that has a proven track record of success when on the field.
On his own, he won’t win you games but surrounded by a capable offense and a decent defense he can win games. This is evident by his impressive track record when on the field for the 49ers both in the regular season and post-season. While the Steelers would need to fill quite a few holes in order for Garoppolo to be maximized, it wouldn’t be a stretch to see him give a few good seasons to this team.
The main issue with him will be the cost to trade for him. The 49ers supposedly want a second-round pick for the veteran. While that isn’t that bad for a starting quarterback (even an average one like Garoppolo), the Steelers are lacking draft picks.
If there is any sort of a bidding war for his services, Pittsburgh will quickly lose out. He wouldn’t be horrible with the team, but his asking price will likely keep him off this team. That said, the interest between the two is something worth monitoring going forward.
Steelers could start Howell
The first of two rookies on this list, Sam Howell arguably has the traits to lead a team even if some doubt just how pro-ready he is. While he had his ups and downs at North Carolina, his entire film role showcases a talented and starting worthy quarterback. The issues lie in his inconsistencies and trouble properly reading defenses and properly reacting.
That said, Howell is in the mold of what the Steelers want in their next quarterback. He has a good arm and is extremely mobile. While he needs to develop quite a bit to become a stable starting quarterback, it isn’t unthinkable that the team could turn him into their next franchise passer. If all goes well and he works on his progression through reads, he should be what Baker Mayfield has yet to develop into; a gunslinger that takes some risks, but those risks can lead to big wins.
The Steelers seem to agree to an extent, as they reportedly had a good deal of interest in Howell at the Senior Bowl. My main concern with him is that if he is thrown into a starting role too early he may be written off before he is given time to develop. That said, he has to make this list at this point. There is a real chance he is available to the team in the first round. If that occurs, don’t be surprised to see the team grab him and try to start him.
Steelers could start Mariota
Marcus Mariota has taken a step back for the team after being one of my early leaders for the Steelers starting quarterback in 2022. While he is no longer my favorite, I do think he still has a good shot at getting a deal here. He fits the bill of what this team is looking for in a quarterback now. Assuming his deal doesn’t break the bank, he should be an affordable and viable option next year.
While he hasn’t seen regular work as a quarterback since signing on as the Raiders’ top backup, he has been used as a gadget player and a quality reverse. While his play with the Titans was filled with inconsistencies, there are still enough quality traits in him to be seen as a short-term starter. For an offense that wants to be more of an athletic threat as opposed to the limited style of play from Ben Roethlisberger, Mariota would go a long way in providing that.
While not a perfect player by any means, the Steelers could do far worse than Mariota next season. It would get the offense geared toward a more athletic quarterback that can damage defenses on the ground. As well, he fits what Matt Canada has best worked with as an offensive coordinator. Mariota is still the best free-agent fit even if his standings have taken a bit of a hit in recent weeks.
Steelers could start Rudolph
My initial rankings list was centered around both Mariota and Mason Rudolph being the top two options for the Steelers to field at quarterback. While both still find themselves on this list, Rudolph has actually leapfrogged the more athletic Mariota.
The reason why is simple: it seems like the team is gearing to select a rookie quarterback early, and if they do then investing in a free agent seems less logical with Rudolph already on the roster.
There isn’t much to be said about Rudolph that hasn’t already been said. He is a good, not great option that has likely already hit his ceiling. That makes him a good backup but not much of a starter. That said, the team opted to invest in him via a new contract. If grabbing a rookie early is the plan, using Rudolph as the interim starter makes the most sense.
It certainly won’t be a popular decision, as most view Rudolph as a mediocre player. That said, if the team wants a rookie to wait a few games before playing, Rudolph should be their guy. Let’s face it, no matter who the quarterback is this team won’t be that good. Even if they find their guy in this draft, having Rudolph take the brunt of the damage on a bad team preserves the rookie. It won’t be a popular decision, but Rudolph should be a favorite to start.
Steelers could start Willis
The new name on the block, it is no secret that the Steelers are in love with Malik Willis. They were all over him at the Senior Bowl, and he did nothing to turn the team off of him based on his play. After claiming they want an athletic quarterback, Willis fits that bill. While an extremely raw quarterback, Willis has the best athleticism and arguably the second-best arm in the class.
He has a lot of issues as a prospect. His decision-making is extremely rushed which leads to poor reads and even worse decisions at times. He got by with his athletic traits in school, but the same shouldn’t be expected in the NFL. Worse yet, he played well at Liberty, but he was never a dominant player. Many claim that he will be taken extremely early, but any team doing so is taking on those risks along with taking him early in the draft.
While I do think Willis can become a good starter in this league, he will need some time before achieving what many expect him to achieve. That doesn’t bode well for him to start, yet he still makes the top of this list. The simple reason is if the Steelers drafted him and whoever they start at quarterback falters (a likely scenario given the team around him), Willis will likely be rushed along. Their infatuation with him is pretty obvious, thus don’t be surprised if the rookie makes a push to start for the team in 2022.
The Steelers will be looking for their next quarterback this offseason, and the Senior Bowl has provided some more clarity to the situation. While a rookie isn’t a slam dunk to start now, it seems far more likely than before that the team rolls with a draft member than not. With all of that considered, these six now seem like the most likely starters for the team come next season.