NFL analyst claims Steelers and Deshaun Watson are a perfect match

The Pittsburgh Steelers haven’t made a move for a high-profile QB yet, but here’s why one NFL analyst thinks that Texans QB Deshaun Watson is a great fit. 

The dreams of landing a top-flight quarterback like Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson are dead. Most Pittsburgh Steelers fans probably recognized that this was just a hope and a prayer to begin with. Now fans are hanging their heads.

When you look at the quarterback outlook in the AFC for the 2022 season, it’s hard not to rank Pittsburgh’s QB situation dead last. Just Mason Rudolph is under contract and the Steelers have expressed that they will bring Dwayne Haskins back for another season.

Even the Houston Texans seem to be in better shape at the quarterback position with 2021 rookie, Davis Mills. This is a tough pill to swallow. Even if Pittsburgh overpays for a veteran in a relatively weak free-agent class, it’s hard to believe that any of these players will lead them to a successful season, considering the giants in the AFC they are now stacked up against.

Recently, however, FanSided NFL Insider Matt Lombardo caught up with NFL Draft analyst Sage Rosenfels who discussed the possibility of Deshaun Watson coming to Pittsburgh. While it’s a longshot, Rosenfels seems to think it’s a perfect fit:

"“A team like the Steelers, who have had a consistent franchise for a long time, I think that would be an unbelievable fit for Watson. It would be huge for Mike Tomlin and that group to get him.”"

Watson, of course, could be a major risk in the event of a trade. He currently has 22 pending civil suits against him for sexual assault allegations, and extreme discipline from the league is not out of the question.

Still, there will be organizations who are willing to gamble on the 26-year-old quarterback with the remarkable start he has had to his NFL career. But would the Pittsburgh Steelers be one of them?

Steelers very unlikely to go after Watson

I agree with Rosenfels that Deshaun Watson would be an excellent fit with the Steelers, but the chances of acquiring the three-time Pro Bowl quarterback are slim to none. There are several reasons for this.

The most obvious has to do with the pending civil charges — something that will almost certainly scare the Steelers away by itself. Back when Ben Roethlisberger was accused of sexual assault in 2009, the Steelers reportedly had a deal in place to trade their Super Bowl-winning quarterback.

If they were willing to ship their franchise quarterback away during the prime of his career, then I highly doubt they would go after a quarterback with so many question marks in Watson.

In addition, the compensation Pittsburgh would have to give up for a risky quarterback would be substantial, as the Houston Texans would be seeking multiple first-round picks and players in a trade. There might be a team out there willing to pull the trigger on this, but it won’t be the Steelers.

If Watson is cleared of all charges, I have little doubt that he will continue to be a top-10 quarterback in the NFL with the potential to lead his team to a Super Bowl win. However, while he may be a fit, this is one player I can assure you that the Steelers will steer clear of.