Why Steelers are drafting a QB, regardless of how you feel about it

The Steelers are not reaching for a quarterback

The next argument made is if the Steelers trade up, they are reaching for a quarterback. For those unfamiliar with the term, it’s when a team selects a player from a bad draft class instead of taking the best player available at any position while waiting for a future draft class with way better talent to select a replacement. Sort of like what the Steelers did in the 2016 draft taking Artie Burns.

However, here is why the analogy is incorrect in regards to 2022. If the Steelers decided to reach for a quarterback, they would do so with the intent of that quarterback starting. There would be no competition in training camp.

In this case, when they select a quarterback, they have no intention of the quarterback taking the reigns in the 2022 season unless, by some quirk, they outperform the other three quarterbacks. That’s why the Steelers brought in Mitchell Trubisky. They brought him in, so he takes the reigns initially. Plus, they have him on a short-term deal to see what he does.

If he makes a rebound leads the Steelers on a playoff run or two, great more power to him. In the meantime, they draft a rookie and allow him to develop. Then in 2023, if Trubisky flames out, then they try out the guy they drafted. If the rookie does not develop, they can trade him, take another quarterback in 2023, or keep Trubisky if he shows he can play better than he did in Chicago.

One additional point, when you listen to Tomlin talk about the quarterbacks and the draft, he again, in the way he said it indicated the quarterback drafted is more of a project in development, and they are unlikely to make the player a starter at least for 2021. Thus opening the door for them to trade up for Willis, let him develop, and hand the team over in 2023 or 2024.

So as much as you may want to voice your opinion on how much you hate the 2022 quarterback draft class and that it’s a waste to select one, and the Steelers should not trade for one, they are busy making plans to do just that. So you or Joe, the plumber, can sit at Mike’s Beer Bar downtown drinking your Iron City and complain about the Steelers taking Desmond Ridder or Malik Will all you want, it still won’t change the fact. Keep in mind that some people argued that Ben Roethlisberger was a wasted pick when the Steelers had Tommy Maddox. Look how long that argument lasted? It only lasted for seven quarters, with one Ben Roethlisberger interception and sack into the 2004 season.