Russell Wilson trade further emphasizes need for Steelers rebuild

There is no better time to start rebuilding

Since the conference has so much talent, now is the perfect time to rebuild. The Steelers are better off building for the future, where they can build a legitimate Super Bowl contender, rather than trading draft assets to acquire a veteran quarterback who can get them to the Wild Card Round this season.

The main focus for Kevin Colbert and the Steelers brass should be on the NFL Draft, but they should also focus on free agency. The first order of business should be to see if there is a player that they view as their franchise quarterback in this class that they want to build around. If there is they should make every effort to get him, but if there’s not then they should build the remainder of the roster through both free agency and the draft while waiting until the next offseason to draft their guy.

As for the quarterback options in this year’s class, the player that should be most affected by this in the Steelers eyes is Kenny Pickett. If the team is committing to a rebuild, then I believe Pickett should no longer be in their plans due to his limited upside. Prior to the Wilson trade, the team could’ve viewed him as a pro-ready quarterback who could make the Steelers a contender this year. However, if the team is rebuilding, picking a safe quarterback with limited upside makes little sense, as the team would be better served to go for someone with immense upside that they can build around.

Malik Willis fits that bill and should be on Pittsburgh’s radar, but the team must consider whether or not they think he will be available at their pick, if they like him enough to move up to get him, and if the quarterbacks next year are better suited for them. With the Wilson trade though, I believe it is less likely the team gets Willis, as he is someone who is likely on Seattle’s radar as the replacement for Wilson. Seattle is also clearly in rebuild mode and can select Willis at number 9 overall. Acquiring Lock in the Wilson trade gives them someone who can play now, while Willis learns the offense, and Seattle builds up the remainder of their offense.

Whether the Steelers draft a quarterback this year or next year, one thing is definitely true, there is no better time than now to rebuild. The conference is now as loaded as ever, particularly at the quarterback position, and the team can take a backseat for a year or two while building up their roster before becoming one of the team’s top contenders again soon.