4 routes the Steelers must consider at quarterback in the draft this year

The Steelers are in the thick of the quarterback conversation at the NFL Draft this year, and they have several options of what they can do at the position.

The Steelers are one of the teams most oft-linked to the selection of a quarterback in this year’s draft class. The team brought in Mitch Trubisky in free agency this offseason to play quarterback for the team next year, but that does not take them out of the running for a quarterback.

Mike Tomlin and Kevin Colbert have been heavily invested in the scouting of quarterbacks, attending the Scouting Combine, each of their Pro Days, and meeting with each of them. The team has several options that they can consider in the draft this year, but these four are the ones that they should be considering.

Option 1: Trade up for Malik Willis

It’s no secret that the Steelers have been heavily linked to Malik Willis in this year’s NFL Draft. The quarterback out of Liberty is the rawest prospect of any of the quarterbacks coming out of college this year, however, he is also the most physically gifted, and has the best raw tools.

While he will be a project at the next level, and won’t be able to start right away, with proper coaching, and in the right system, Willis could develop into a superstar at the next level.

With Trubisky in place, he provides the team with the ability to let Willis sit for a year or two, learn the offense and continue to develop before taking over as the signal-caller. Trubisky is on a team-friendly deal and has mobility in his own right, so the team could start building the offense and their scheme around Trubisky’s mobility, and when they deem Willis ready, he can slot right in.

However, although many draft analysts mock Willis to the Steelers at 20, it is unlikely that he makes it to them at 20. If the Steelers truly view him as their franchise guy, they will have to trade up to get him. The Carolina Panthers, Atlanta Falcons, and Seattle Seahawks are all legitimate threats to select a quarterback, and the Detroit Lions have become a dark horse contender to select Willis as well.

While I believe Kenny Pickett will be the guy for Carolina if they select a quarterback, the Falcons and Seahawks are legitimate threats to select Willis, and the Lions have the potential to take him at 2, or more likely to trade up from 32 if they really want him.

With the Falcons and Seahawks sitting at 8 and 9 in the draft, the Giants at seventh overall would likely be the slot the Steelers would have to trade into if they want to get Willis. While the team would have to part with their first next year, as well as some additional capital later on in the draft this year or next year, if they truly believe he is their franchise quarterback, they should absolutely make the move up for him.