Pittsburgh Steelers settle for QB Mitchell Trubisky in free agency

The Pittsburgh Steelers found their quarterback for the 2022 season. Here’s what Mitchell Trubisky can bring to the table this year. 

It’s official the Steelers have found their franchise quarterback… That is if you can call him that. After staying quiet during the Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson sweepstakes, many fans set their sights on Deshaun Watson after he was cleared from sexual assault allegations during his hearing on March 11th. However, Pittsburgh ultimately settled for free agent QB, Mitchell Trubisky.

NFL Network reporter Mike Garafolo was the first to break the news. The two-year deal for Trubisky takes the Steelers out of the running for a player like Jimmy Garoppolo, and he’s projected to be the Week 1 starter next season:

This shouldn’t come as a big surprise, as Trubisky is a name that I and several of my contributors at Still Curtain have been predicting could lead this team in 2022 dating back to the end of the 2021 season. Trubisky felt like the guy that made the most sense, based on the traits Mike Tomlin described in his press conference that he would be looking for in a quarterback.

Trubisky rarely saw the field for the Buffalo Bills in 2021, and he completed 6 of 8 passes in very limited action. However, he has an intriguing 29-21 career recorded and led the Bears to an 11-3 record as a starter during his 2018 Pro Bowl season, according to Pro Football Reference.

As a former second overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, Trubisky never lived up to lofty expectations, but he had good tools and mobility and has showcased the ability to successfully manage the game. Still just 27 years old, there were many around the league who thought he was deserving of another shot at being a starter, and he will get that this season for the Steelers.

What are Steelers getting with Trubisky?

If you were hoping for a quarterback that would immediately elevate the play of the team around him and make the Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl contenders next season, Trubisky, unfortunately, is not your guy. However, I actually don’t hate this signing.

While Trubisky is highly unlikely to bring this city its seventh Lombardi Trophy during his tenure as the starting quarterback, he can, however, provide a stable body at the QB position and could help improve the young offensive players around him and give the coaching staff an opportunity to properly assess and evaluate the offensive talent.

Though Tribisky isn’t much of a big-play quarterback, he does have exceptional athletic traits and the ability to extend the play with his legs — something Pittsburgh’s offense has been missing for years. His ability to move within the pocket should help the offensive line look better in 2022.

Trubisky is also accurate and a good decision-maker with the football — two traits that could potentially help the Steelers to another playoff berth next season if the defense does their part.

The details of Trubisky’s contract have not yet been released. Regardless, I think this could be a quality signing who could help some of the younger players develop and will give Pittsburgh the flexibility to wait until 2023 to address QB early in the draft if they are not confident in the options this year.