There has been a lot of chatter about what the Steelers will do at quarterback this offseason. For obvious reasons, fans are down on Kenny Pickett, and this team should have more of a competition at the position this year.
This rampant speculation has caused nearly every major quarterback that is available, or rumored to be available, linked to the Steelers. I can safely say that not every big name will come to this team. That said, I’ve taken some of the bigger names linked to this team (or already on the team) to see who fits and who doesn’t. Here are my five quarterbacks that make no sense for the Steelers (and four that do).
Doesn’t make sense for Steelers: a middling free-agent
Of all of the options on this list, I feel like this group has gotten the least amount of attention, and for good reason. This tier of quarterback is one that is brought in as either a mentor or as a short-term starter while a rookie learns the role. You can highlight a few names in this category, from Jacoby Brissett to Tyrod Taylor.
While these names have inherent value, it really doesn’t make a lot of sense to sign one of them. For starters, they won’t be cheap. The quarterback market is always pricy, and those premium backups can still make close to ten million a season. Being brought in this offseason is more of an admission that Pickett will be the guy moving forward though.
You don’t sign a Brissett with the intention of him starting for the entire season. They are there to push a current player or hold the spot down for a rookie. Why invest all of that money in a guy who you know won’t start? It just makes no sense to me.
Makes sense for Steelers: Russell Wilson
I’ve toyed with the idea of Russell Wilson, and I ultimately decided to place him on the “makes sense side” of things. There are some caveats that I will explain, but if all goes as expected, he could make more sense than I had thought.
Wilson was, at one point, one of the best quarterbacks in the league. He had a falling out with the Seahawks and was traded to the Broncos in what has turned out to be a lopsided move. It seems more than likely that Wilson will be cut this offseason despite the massive amount of money he is still owed on his deal.
There is speculation that because of the money he is set to still get, he will play on a minimum deal. I highly doubt that, but if he is willing to play on more of a discount, he could provide a viable contender to Pickett as the starter.
While Wilson’s time in Denver was a failure, he was playing some better football this past season. It wasn’t perfect, and he is clearly a player on the decline. That is the issue when you are looking for the veteran route, as great options rarely hit free agency.
If Wilson is willing to play on a discount though, I think he is a viable fit for this offense. He can provide solid competition for Pickett at a reasonable price. Even though neither are likely to be the long-term option, a discounted Wilson is a logical addition to the quarterback room.
Doesn’t make sense for Steelers: a top rookie quarterback
Don’t get me wrong, long-term this is the best chance the Steelers have at finding a franchise quarterback. Almost every top team drafts and develops their guy. There are outliers but look at the recent trend of Super Bowl teams and winners. Almost everyone has featured a homegrown quarterback that is playing at a high level. Again, teams don’t let that kind of player leave.
So why shouldn’t the Steelers try and do this? In a perfect world, they would. It is no secret that I love Drake Maye as a prospect, and Jayden Daniels isn’t that far behind him. Those two and Caleb Williams make up your elite prospects. The issue is that Pittsburgh likely won’t have a shot at any of them, as they should all be taken in the top ten, or even the top five.
Trading up is common for a quarterback, but other teams drive the price up for it. Typically, the asking price is around your first-round pick in the following year. Steep, but worth it if you can land that top guy. With the Steelers needing to move up around 15 spots though, that will mean multiple picks and likely multiple first-rounders on top of that.
That isn’t to say I am inherently against that either. If you get a top quarterback like Patrick Mahomes or Josh Allen, you will quickly forget about the cost of acquiring him. The Steelers will have to have done their homework and be sure though, something I struggle to see them do with so many other needs. This is the best route to finding your quarterback, but it is hard to see Pittsburgh going down this road this offseason.
Makes sense for Steelers: Mason Rudolph
What a Cinderella story it was for Mason Rudolph this past season. The former third-round pick had become the but of many jokes in Pittsburgh, and his career seemed to have hit a bottom last offseason. No team wanted him, so he came back to the Steelers on a minimum deal. This seemed like his last grasp before the team turned to him in replacement of Pickett and Mitchell Trubisky.
Rudolph wasn’t perfect by any means, but he finally gave the Steelers the quarterback they seemingly wanted from the previous offseason. That was a safe player who made the needed plays but relied on the ground game to win. Pickett wasn’t doing that, but Rudolph was. This team wouldn’t have made the playoffs without Rudolph at the helm.
Because of this, he naturally makes a lot of sense to run with as the team's starting quarterback next season. At this point, he isn’t going to progress much, but the players seem to like him and the Steelers rallied with him at the helm.
While I agree that he is a logical fit, there are two reasons he isn’t in the top two names I would consider for the role. This team is still attached to Pickett for obvious reasons (more on that soon). Would Rudolph actually be given a shot to compete for the starting gig, or would this be 2022 all over again? As an individual, he has earned that right, and if the Steelers aren’t going to give him it, it doesn’t make sense to keep him here.
While I doubt that he will break the bank, there is a cost concern to factor in here. While his story was a good one, I also don’t think it will last. If given a full season, I would expect a mixed result. It isn’t like Rudolph suddenly launches this team into the Super Bowl conversation. He makes a lot of sense, don’t get me wrong, but there are other names I think I would prefer given the state of this team.
Doesn’t make sense for the Steelers: Bo Nix
There is a large contingent of Steelers fans who want this team to draft a quarterback in the first round of this draft. Typically, I would agree with that strategy, as drafting and developing a quarterback is a gamble, but when it works off, you often have a franchise player on your hands.
The Steelers issue is their draft position, as the 20th overall pick isn’t lining up for this team to land a premium rookie. The aforementioned top names will already be off the board, and more than likely the best quarterback left will be Bo Nix. While drafting a quarterback in the first round is at least dedication to trying and better the position, the process would be flawed.
For starters, it wasn’t until Nix transferred to Oregon that he really found his footing as a starter, and it wasn’t until his last season in college that he played like a potential first-round pick. Sound familiar? It should, as Pickett was a nearly identical story during his final seasons in college. Playing five seasons in college is an advantage for any quarterback.
Nix also lacks a lot of the elite traits that you want in a dynamic quarterback. Do I think he is a better prospect than Pickett? Yes, but I don’t think he will transform an offense and turn a team into a competitor. If you aren’t getting that out of your quarterback long-term, it is hard to justify taking them in the first round.
Makes sense for Steelers: Ryan Tannehill
There seems to be a general disgust at the idea of the Steelers signing Ryan Tannehill this offseason. Is he some sort of franchise savior? Absolutely not, but he performed well in Authur Smith’s offense in Tennessee, should be on the cheaper end, and gives this team the best shot to see both what they have in Pickett and an emergency option in case nothing has changed.
Let me once again reiterate just how bad the quarterback situation is for the Steelers. Without a quarterback, you aren’t going to consistently compete, so Pittsburgh is in a tough spot. I’d rather have a poor season with a cheaper quarterback than go all out for a castoff and land in the same spot you are now (mid-round pick, little to no playoff success).
Tannehill is the perfect fit for this. You can bring him in as competition but still allow Pickett to have the first shot at the job. If things are still bad, you can turn to Tannehill to save face and act like you are trying to remain competitive. More than likely, he stabilizes the position but doesn’t elevate it, leaving the door open for a higher pick and a shot at your quarterback in 2025.
There is a slight chance he catches lighting in a bottle again with Smith back as his offensive coordinator, but at his age that is unlikely. Instead, he is a stable veteran who applies pressure to Pickett for a reasonable price. No, he doesn’t fix the room long-term, but he can be a cheap band-aid as the hunt for a new quarterback really gets underway next season.
Doesn’t make sense for Steelers: Kirk Cousins
This seems to be the most exciting free-agent quarterback set to enter the market, and Steelers fans have naturally gravitated toward him as an option. I’ll be honest, I like Cousins as a quarterback, as he is like an elevated game manager. He needs some help, but in the right offense he can thrive.
There are a lot more issues though. For starters, he is old and coming off an Achilles injury. While mobility isn’t his strong suit, that injury will likely hamper him even more. With this offensive line still a concern, that could quickly become an issue.
He also won’t be cheap. We saw names like Daniel Jones and Derick Carr get paid a lot of money last offseason, and Cousins is better than either. Pittsburgh isn’t flush with cap space, especially with the defense so invested in. You would have to skimp elsewhere to bring him in this year.
My biggest reservation is the fact that he hasn’t been a proven winner. He had some great offenses in Minnesota and has been throwing passes to the best receiver in the game for the past few seasons. While the Vikings have occasionally contended, they haven’t been consistent threats nor have they actually won any meaningful games. Why would it be any better with the Steelers?
I think if you had the right team around Cousins, you could be a Super Bowl team. That said, I don’t think the Steelers fit that this season and time is of the essence with Cousins. Instead, I think he would become a pricy starter that keeps this team where they are at with maybe a playoff win or two added on. To me, that really isn’t worth it.
Makes sense for Steelers: Kenny Pickett
At the time of this writing, I am all aboard the Pickett train for 2024. This isn’t because I think he will suddenly be a good quarterback or thrive with this offense. Instead, I am more than willing to sink or swim (and most likely sink) with Pickett at the helm. There isn’t a compelling case available elsewhere.
I have never been a Pickett fan, and while I’m sure the previous offensive regime wasn’t doing him any favors, I also don’t believe he has what it takes to be a good quarterback in this league. Given the investment and lack of other options, Pittsburgh wants to give him one more go, and despite my belief in his ability, I support it.
The best-case scenario is that it truly was Matt Canada, and Pickett suddenly looks like a competent quarterback in this new scheme. No, he won’t be Mahomes, but he can compete with a good team around him. On the flip side, the trend continues and Pickett can officially be labeled a bust after three seasons of bad play.
This will also likely give the Steelers a decent draft pick, which opens the door for a quarterback in 2025. If he works out, I’ll be happy to be humbled and see this team succeed. If he doesn’t, I’m fine having a down season in the hopes of finding a long-term option. Pickett gives the best chance of at least one of those things happening.
Doesn’t make sense for Steelers: Justin Fields
I’ll be the first to admit that I was a fan of Justin Fields when he came out of Ohio State, and while he is seemingly available now, I’m not banging the table for him. While he would provide a unique element to this offense, there is a lot of risk in acquiring him this offseason.
Let’s start with his play, which has been inconsistent at best. While he occasionally makes amazing plays, he will also make really poor choices and will turn the ball over. He is also dependent on his running game, and Pittsburgh hasn’t found a lot of recent success with quarterbacks like that.
The contract becomes an issue as well. You would need to make a decision on his fifth-year option which would give him a bigger cap hit next year. If he doesn’t pan out, you are still on the ropes for that money. A trade is also needed to acquire him, meaning even more assets will be required to get him on this team. That is a big asking price for a quarterback with very little NFL success.
Because of this, I am against Fields coming to this team unless he can be traded for some low-draft picks. Assuming that isn’t the case, I’m ready to roll with Pickett for one last season. I don’t expect a lot, but every other name on this list outside of the rookies are band-aids, and that is something this lifeless offense doesn’t need.