On the heels of Gerry Dulac’s document that the Pittsburgh Steelers have apparent “internal division” as to whether or not Kenny Pickett or Mason Rudolph be the beginning quarterback for 2024, Warren Sharp of Sharp Football blasted the Steelers’ strategy to the games most important position.“The Steelers have 25 passing TDs in 34 games on the grounds that Big Ben retired, the fewest passing TDs of any crew in the NFL. Now they’re debating if their 2018 3rd round draft select ought to be QB1. This franchise has become unserious. Playoff wins in 12 yrs from 2005-2016? 12 ( two Super Bowls). Playoff wins final 7 years, in view that 2017? Zero,” Sharp wrote on X.
Dulac also stated the Steelers are no longer fascinated in signing or otherwise obtaining a quarterback that will demand to be the team’s starter. Steelers Now was once in a position to confirm that the Steelers are now not actively in search of an exterior starting quarterback.This suggests that Kirk Cousins, Justin Fields or Russell Wilson won’t be considered, which leaves a lot to be desired. Pickett, or even Rudolph, being the starter isn’t absolutely encouraging. Among forty two qualified quarterbacks (min. 10 starts) in the remaining two years, Pickett is tied for worst in touchdown-interception ratio (13-13), fortieth in averaging yards per attempt (6.3) and 40th in factors per game when leading the offense (16.8).
Pickett is additionally the only quarterback in the Super Bowl generation with a passing touchdown price underneath 2% among 335 QBs who attempted five hundred career passes. Perhaps it was once the Matt Canada effect, but Pickett has a lot of characteristics that need to vastly improve, such as pocket focus and eliminating the dependancy of spinning out of pressure. Just to name a few.The Steelers haven’t won a playoff recreation considering the fact that the 2016 season, the seven-year drought is the longest for the franchise considering that pre-1972. The fanbase is restless, and Pickett as the beginning quarterback truly doesn’t move the needle in an AFC loaded at the quarterback position. The Steelers don’t have “that guy” in a quarterback-driven league.
The Steelers ought to go after Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields, however they would have to provide up enormous draft pick out compensation and commit approximately $23 million to a fifth-year option for Fields in 2025 before he ever plays a snap for the team. Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins is reportedly searching for a contract that will pay him a totally assured $90 million over the next two seasons. The Steelers are nonetheless over the salary cap, and would have to make massive cuts in order to be capable to come up with the money for such a contract. They also have by no means given out a absolutely assured multi-year contract to any player. Cousins, who is turning 36, is additionally coming off an Achilles injury.Russell Wilson could be an choice (Denver’s possibly to launch him), but would he desire to come to Pittsburgh to backup Pickett? The Steelers are in a hard spot, and might have to experience it out with a state of affairs of Pickett, Ryan Tannehill and a rookie draft choose as their quarterbacks for 2024.
Sharp’s assessment that the Steelers have grow to be an unserious franchise is pretty blunt, but a accurate portion of fans would likely agree with him. No playoff wins in seven years is uncharted waters in Pittsburgh, and that streak won’t quit every time soon till they determine out the quarterback position.
