The Steelers need to improve their backup quarterback spot, and here are five veterans that the team could realistically target.
The Steelers have the face of the franchise in Kenny Pickett, but the backup room behind him is about to be turned upside down. Mason Rudolph is set to be a free agent, and it seems unlikely that the team will be able to convince him to come back. As for Mitch Trubisky, it seems likely that the team parts ways with him.
Pickett is rightfully entrenched as the starter, but finding a capable backup is a logical move. A veteran won’t cost as much as Trubisky, but he can be a stable backup and mentor to Pickett. They don’t need the transitional starter like Trubisky anymore, they need a quality veteran who can step in and play and serve as a mentor on the sideline.
Here are five veteran quarterbacks the Steelers need to target in free agency.
Steelers could sign Teddy Bridgewater
Of all of the names on this list, Teddy Bridgewater is easily the best quarterback. Just as likely, he is the least likely name to be brought in. While Bridgewater is a fine quarterback, he is more in the vein of a transitional quarterback as opposed to a pure backup. I doubt he would be willing to sign to a team with an established starter.
On top of this, his contract will likely be pretty expensive. While he won’t be making ten million a season, Bridgewater will still commend a pretty penny. Even if he was willing to sign with this team as a backup, he would likely be too expensive.
Steelers could sign Case Keenum
The elder statesman of this list, Case Keenum has become quite the successful journeyman. A very average starter, Keenum progressed from backup to starter and now back to the backup. That said, he is good to play a few games a season and can hold his own in most offenses. You don’t want him as the every-down starter, but he is a perfect backup.
While his current contract is a little expensive, I doubt he will be earning six million a season once he enters free agency. That contract seemed rich when he signed it with the Browns, but he has served his purpose as a dependable backup. At his age though, his contract will likely come in on the smaller side of things.
Keenum represents a perfect prospect of what you want in a backup this next season. He won’t need starting reps given his status in the league and he can play in case of injury. Assuming his contract comes in below what it did on his last deal, him coming to the Steelers makes a lot of sense as he would be an ideal backup in 2023.
Steelers could sign Jeff Driskel
The Steelers aren’t the most aggressive spenders in free agency, and they tend to like cheaper names to fill their needs. This is especially so at backups, as they don’t like to spend big on reserves. If the team wants to go for a veteran quarterback on the cheap, a logical name is Jeff Driskel.
Driskel broke into the NFL with the Bengals and has served as various different team’s backup quarterbacks over the past few seasons. He saw the most work in Cincinnati and Denver and has most recently served as the backup for Houston. He isn’t a great option to play long-term, but he can step in for a few series and hold his own.
Driskel has surprising mobility for a player of his size. Because of this, he can mimic what the team has in Pickett assuming he were to miss time. He is currently playing on a veteran minimum deal, and the odds of him getting much more than that seem slim. That said, he would be a fine budget option for the team as a backup quarterback.
Steelers should sign Jacoby Brissett
A name I thought the Steelers may have had an interest in last offseason, Jacoby Brissett is a very sound quarterback who can step in a moment. The Browns signed him as the in-place starter while Deshaun Watson served his suspension this season. While he was far from perfect, Brissett continued to showcase a lot of desirable traits.
He has a big arm but is also a conservative passer. While not overly athletic, Brissett is comfortable moving around in the pocket and taking off when need be. He also has a long history of being a dependable backup. From his time with the Colts to Miami last season, Brissett is a quality backup through and through.
Like Bridgewater, my main issue with Brissett may be his willingness to sign with the Steelers. He may want another opportunity to start somewhere, and he won’t have that in Pittsburgh. As well, his cost may be too much for this team to afford. If his contract was cheap enough and he was willing to sign though, he would make a lot of sense.
Steelers should sign Andy Dalton
A name a lot of Steelers fans will likely groan over, Andy Dalton won’t bring about many smiles as his time with the Bengals was average at best. While he had some stretches of great play, he never took the Bengals anywhere. They eventually replaced him with Joe Burrow, and Dalton has been a backup ever since.
That said, Dalton is very much in his element as a backup. The pressure isn’t on to consistently lead teams to wins, but he can come in and comfortably lead an offense if he has to be turned to. He hasn’t been horrible as a backup, and frankly, Pittsburgh could do a lot worse. Dalton would be a premiere backup to Pickett.
Frankly, I view Pickett as a very similar player to Dalton. I think adding him would provide a stable veteran to sit behind him and help guide him in his second season. If Pickett were to miss any time, Dalton would be a fine short-term replacement. Assuming his deal isn’t huge, Dalton is a logical target for this team.
The Steelers will be looking for a new backup quarterback to sit behind their top pick from last year’s draft. Finding a stable veteran is a must this year, as they no longer need a transitional quarterback at the helm. These five veterans make the most sense for the team to pursue once free agency opens.