The Steelers have decided to completely revamp their quarterback room this offseason, and every face currently in the room is new to the team. While the focus is on the battle brewing for the starting job, an interesting subplot of that story has surfaced at the bottom of the depth chart.
As has been widely reported, presumed starter Russell Wilson has been rehabbing some leg soreness early in camp. While he is likely still in the driver's seat to start, it has allowed Justin Fields to see starter snaps. As has been documented, it has been a little up and down, but overall he has impressed.
Receiving far less press are the last two names on the depth chart. Kyle Allen and John Rhys Plumlee have also benefited from Wilson’s time on the sideline, as they have been promoted to second and third string, respectively. Both have looked solid and could be viable backups.
For Plumlee though, this could have huge implications. Everyone knows that he is an athlete first, as he played both receiver and quarterback in college. He hopes to stick at quarterback, but his biggest asset is his ability to make plays with the ball. However, his showing so far as a quarterback has been promising enough as a backup.
Why Plumlee could make a Steelers roster push
The top two quarterbacks are set right now, and assuming Fields and Wilson stay healthy, they will make up the top of the depth chart. The real question comes down to quarterback three. Allen has the natural edge, but Plumlee could make a push for a roster spot given his solid play. Given the new practice squad rules, the team may only keep two on the active roster.
To be clear, Plumlee’s push isn’t due solely to his quarterback play. Given his athleticism and experience as a receiver, the Steelers have been using him on return units. While it was a fun story at first with most expecting him to be bounced from there, he continues to see work there, adding to his versatility.
While the experiment hasn’t gone much farther than that, it is notable to see him getting work in other areas. Similar to Taysom Hill, Plumlee could make some noise at positions other than quarterback. If he shows enough value there mixed in with his ok play behind center, you could easily see him sneak onto the roster and even earn some playing time.
A third quarterback typically sits on the bench all game unless things go catastrophic. If you can have your third quarterback working on special teams and even seeing some hybrid offensive snaps, it is all the better for your team. And, if an emergency were to come up, he can hold his own for part of the game under center.
While a player like Allen will easily produce better quarterback snaps, he lacks the versatility that Plumlee has. He could also be kept on the practice squad as emergency depth in case of injury. Again, this assumes that Plumlee shows off versatility beyond being just a quarterback.
If he does it would be a big win for the Steelers. Hill has been one of the most dynamic weapons in the league, and during stretches where the Saints have had mediocre quarterback play, he has given the offense a spark. Even if Plumlee doesn’t get to that same level, having a quarterback who can serve as emergency depth while wearing a lot of different hats elsewhere would be a huge hit for an undrafted free agent. Hill’s initial path to the roster was as a special teams player, and Plumlee will need to emulate that more than likely to stick this year.
This is a situation to monitor moving forward. While the talk will and should remain on the two top quarterbacks, Plumlee’s development at camp has been intriguing. The Steelers need to continue to use him in this hybrid way, but if he can prove his worth there and maintain a solid level of quarterback play, Pittsburgh may have the next version of Hill on their roster.