Pittsburgh completely overhauled their quarterback room from last season. Out are Kenny Pickett, Mitch Trubisky, and Mason Rudolph, while brought in Russell Wilson, Justin Fields, and Kyle Allen through free agency and a trade. The Steelers are in better shape right now than they were when they lost in the playoffs this past season.
One team clearly in a worse spot at the quarterback position is the Minnesota Vikings.
The Vikings lost Kirk Cousins this offseason to Atlanta, and they didn't provide many answers to the most important position in football. Minnesota decided to sign Sam Darnold and take J.J. McCarthy high in the draft. McCarthy was a raw prospect coming out and couldn't afford any early setbacks in his career.
Unfortunately, McCarthy suffered a season-ending MCL tear that required surgery to repair. He will miss the entire year. Darnold was likely to start before the injury, but now he has zero competition. Minnesota may look outside the organization to add some upgrades to the position before the regular season.
With Russell Wilson and Justin Fields looking leave their mark in Pittsburgh, the Steelers can't offer help to the Vikings via trade. However, there are a few former Steelers quarterbacks Minnesota wouldn't mind having to beef up their QB room.
Kenny Pickett could already find his way out of Philadelphia
If there was a honeymoon phase for Kenny Pickett in Philadelphia, it is over now. There has been constant chatter via reports and from fans of the Eagles about how poorly Pickett has done not only in their preseason games thus far, but also throughout training camp. He was once the obvious backup for the Eagles, but that seems to be changing.
Philadelphia acquired Pickett from the Steelers, as well as a 2024 fourth-round pick, in exchange for a third-round pick in 2024 and two seventh-round selections in 2025. A cheap price for a quarterback who many thought could still gain a starting spot in the NFL someday. Those beliefs seem to be falling apart after Pickett's start with the Eagles.
Tanner McKee is the third-string guy with the Eagles, and he seems primed to gun for the backup spot with how things currently sit. If Pickett gets demoted then he could demand another trade, much like he did in Pittsburgh. Minnesota could be a place to hand him the backup job and present an opportunity for him to play starting snaps again.
Josh Dobbs mania with the Vikings last season was special
Perhaps the likeliest of the two potentially ending up with the Vikings is none other than Josh Dobbs. He was originally drafted by the Steelers and was one of the best quarterbacks in the preseason during his time with Pittsburgh. He never got significant playing time with the black and gold, but he has started games since moving on.
Dobbs played meaningful games with the Tennessee Titans, Arizona Cardinals, and Minnesota Vikings over the past couple of years. Last season in Minnesota was almost movie-like as the Dobbs mania was in full effect. It only lasted for about two weeks, but Dobbs was an electric option at quarterback for the Vikings during that time. He was quickly benched after that, but he presented some magic.
They know Dobbs and are familiar with what he brings with his game. He has some mobility and a strong arm. He might not be the perfect upgrade that they would want, but he would be someone who can be a backup and start games when called upon. Dobbs is a smart player who would be a perfect fit with the Vikings.
The Steelers' 2017 fourth-round pick is currently with the San Francisco 49ers trying to make their roster this preseason. If they decide to roll with two quarterbacks, then Dobbs could be the odd man out. A preseason trade -- like when the Steelers dealt him to the Jaguars earlier in his career -- could be in play. His biggest opportunity would be with the Minnesota Vikings if they wanted to find a way to bring him back.