Was Mitch Trubisky the right free agent QB for the Steelers?

The Steelers have found a new potential starting QB, but was he the best option available? Here is why the Steelers went with Mitch Trubisky.

Steelers fans have known that the team would add bodies to the QB room since Ben Roethlisberger made it clear he was retiring. The question was how they would choose to do so. Rumors had been running rampant across social media leading up to the opening of free agency on March 14th, mostly about potential trade options like Jimmy Garroppolo and even Deshaun Watson.

The draft was (and still could be) an option as well of course, but ultimately the team went the free-agent route by signing Mitch Trubisky to a 2-year deal worth a maximum of $27 million with incentives.

The move makes a ton of sense for both sides: Trubisky gets an easy path to a starting job and the Steelers don’t have to trot out Mason Rudolph next season. What is up for debate is whether he was the right free agent QB to add.

Trubisky is a former #2 overall pick and has a pro bowl selection under his belt, but he flamed out of Chicago after four seasons and didn’t play much last season while backing up Josh Allen in Buffalo. The Bills spoke very highly of his year with them, however, and it helped increase his value to QB needy teams.

Trubisky also has more potential upside than the other top free agents QBs like Teddy Bridgewater, Tyrod Taylor, and Marcus Mariota. Jameis Winston was solid last year for the Saints but is coming off a major knee injury, so he likely wasn’t in consideration.

The Steelers coaching staff wanted someone with mobility as well, and Trubisky checks that box. He isn’t as polished and accurate as Bridgewater or as athletic as Taylor and Mariota, but he has a solid base to work with and a better roster around him in Pittsburgh than he had in Chicago.

Trubisky wasn’t the best QB available for the Steelers. When you factor in cost, upside, and scheme fit though, he feels like the right player to be the bridge between the past and the future. Worst case scenario, he flames out again and the Steelers get a high pick and cut bait.

Best-case scenario, he plays like a quality starter and helps the team stay competitive in the short term. It’s a Steelers classic low-risk signing in GM Kevin Colbert’s final season. Who knows, maybe Trubisky will even start to look like a player who was worthy of the #2 overall pick.