In recent years, we have seen a resurgence of former first-round quarterbacks who struggled with the teams that drafted them, only to find success after a change of scenery. The Pittsburgh Steelers failed in their attempt at it with Justin Fields, but a player like Sam Darnold has been a success. Once the third overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft by the New York Jets, Darnold’s time in New York lasted just three seasons before he was traded to the Carolina Panthers.
After two uneven years there, he signed as a backup with the San Francisco 49ers and later joined the Minnesota Vikings, where his career truly took off. Darnold led the Vikings to 14 wins, earned a lucrative contract, and went on to win a Super Bowl in his first season with the Seattle Seahawks.
Darnold is not alone. Other former first-round quarterbacks, such as Baker Mayfield and Daniel Jones, have also seen their careers stabilize or even flourish after leaving their original teams. With Aaron Rodgers’ future in Pittsburgh uncertain, the Steelers may soon face a pivotal decision at quarterback. If Rodgers does not return, do they roll with Will Howard, or do they take a chance on one of these former first-round quarterbacks in hopes of finding their next franchise QB?
The Pittsburgh Steelers could give Trey Lance a shot at a career redemption arc
When Mike McCarthy was the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, the team traded for Trey Lance in 2024. By that point, Lance was already on his second stop in the NFL after a brief and turbulent tenure with the San Francisco 49ers, who selected him third overall in the 2021 NFL Draft. Lance spent most of his rookie season as a backup before taking over as the starter in his second year.
That opportunity was cut short almost immediately when he suffered a season-ending ankle injury in Week 2, opening the door for Brock Purdy to take over later that season and change the franchise’s trajectory.
Following that season, the 49ers moved on from Lance, trading him to Dallas, where he served as a third-string quarterback. Despite the lack of playing time, Lance has remained an intriguing developmental option. Coming out of North Dakota State, he possessed all the physical traits and raw tools teams look for in modern quarterbacks, but his limited college experience made it clear he would be a long-term project.
Now, after spending last season in Los Angeles as Justin Herbert’s backup and entering free agency, the question becomes whether the Steelers could reunite Lance with McCarthy. If Pittsburgh is searching for upside at the position, would taking a low-risk chance on Lance offer the possibility of finally unlocking the potential that once made him a top-three pick?