With the final preseason game over, the Steelers have an interesting dilemma with their quarterbacks ahead of the league cutdown. In typical seasons, the Steelers would only keep three quarterbacks: Russell Wilson, Justin Fields, and Kyle Allen.
However, the Steelers could decide to keep all four quarterbacks. The fourth is John Rhys Plumlee. This move would be controversial as keeping Plumlee would take up an extra roster spot for an extra linebacker, running back, or wide receiver. However, Plumlee did make a case to make the final cut down, just not as a quarterback.
Plumlee, in case you missed it, emerged as a surprise leader for the Steelers with 145 total kickoff return yards in all three preseason games. His 38-yard kickoff return against the Lions was the longest of the preseason.
What's truly astonishing is that he was never intended to be a kickoff return specialist when the Steelers signed him. Cordarrelle Patterson was supposed to fill that role.
Making a case for John Rhys Plumlee
If you poll 100 people, all 100 would say it would be asinine to keep four quarterbacks in the regular season as it would burn a badly needed roster spot for another position. However, the Steelers must ask themselves that question as they start cutting players. The quandary arose when Cordarrelle Patterson pulled his hamstring ahead of training camp. Thus, he did not play in a preseason game until the Bills game.
The Lions game showcased Patterson's potential at making big plays as a running back or wide receiver. He never had an opportunity to make the case as the Steelers kick returner with the new kickoff rule. Plumlee did make a solid case showing his potential to play the slash role for the Steelers as they took advantage of his running speed.
In normal situations, it would be a no-brainer to cut Plumlee; however, when a play makes a solid case to keep him as a potential playmaker, that needs consideration. The goal of the cutdown is to put the 53 best players on the field who have the best potential to win games. Plumlee proved he has that capability. No one else does.
With Kickoffs potentially impacting games this year, the teams that excel in kickoff returns have a tremendous advantage over those that do not in terms of starting field position. If Plumlee's making the Steelers' final roster helps, then that will translate into wins, which helps the starting quarterback by giving them a short field to work with on the opening of the possession.
While keeping Plumlee would, at best, be one of Mie Tomlin's most controversial decisions ever, one needs to weigh the potential benefits. In the end, it's unlikely Tomlin will keep a fourth quarterback; however, the potential benefits of Plumlee's unique role on the team are worth considering. His presence could be a game-changer, and Tomlin will need to carefully weigh this before making his final roster cuts.