Despite jogging the treadmill of mediocrity due to the fact Ben Roethlisberger’s retirement after the 2021 season, the Pittsburgh Steelers are reportedly not fascinated in bringing in a veteran starting quarterback this offseason.Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio has extra on what should be a wild state of affairs to comply with in league circles:Publicly declaring your non-interest in acquiring a veteran quarterback positive is one way to strive and create negotiating leverage thru the media! Lying Season is right here and I am prepared for it.
For the sake of this post, let’s take this report at face value. If this is true, then the Steelers will go into the 2024 NFL season with Mason Rudolph (a 2018 third-round pick out who has seen the group pass him over for the likes of Kenny Pickett and Mitch Trubisky), Kenny Pickett (who has thrown as many interceptions (13) as he has touchdowns (13) in his two years as a starter), or a possible April draft select quarterbacking the squad when matters kick off in September. That is a exceedingly wild way to body the situation, but that is the fact this Pittsburgh franchise would be staring in the face.
On the one hand, Mason Rudolph versus Kenny Pickett versus a draft pick-to-be-named-later would be pretty the show at a Steelers camp. But on the different hand, this doesn’t seem like the form of thing that an organization like Pittsburgh would put its team through. Hence, I sense as if this file is just an problematic way to create negotiation leverage by means of the usage of the media. Unlike the NFL, I hand out points for creativity (even if they’re meaningless).Either way, I’m interested by way of this development — specially because of the practicable Bears ramifications. More on that in a moment.
I doubt that it is a coincidence that a file dismissing the thought of Pittsburgh adding a veteran quarterback this offseason comes just days after ESPN’s Adam Schefter shared an anecdote about Head Coach Mike Tomlin “is a huge fan” of Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields. In other words, the report of the Steelers not having an activity in a vet QB should be taken as a nod to the other side reminding them they can additionally negotiate through the league’s media influencers. At the very least, it makes for a captivating game of cat-and-mouse.
Even still … the Justin Fields suit is undeniable. Fields should use a easy slate and a better organizational structure around him than what he skilled for the duration of his first three years in Chicago. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh is a postseason contender in a difficult division that should use a quarterback upgrade after starting Mason Rudolph in a playoff game. But due to the fact of the Steelers’ area in the standings, a draft upgrade doesn’t look like it is in the cards. Hence, Fields makes an best bridge QB for a group that isn’t bad sufficient to draft a premier quarterback option.
Of course, Fields isn’t the ONLY alternative Pittsburgh can go to this offseason. So if the Bears are digging their heels in too deep in this sport of hardball, they may want to give up up whiffing on an possibility to get a first rate exchange return for Fields (should they select to draft a quarterback with the first pick out in April’s NFL Draft).Kirk Cousins is a free agent with the highest ground of any handy veteran quarterback. Plugging him into that offense would spice things up in the AFC North. Ryan Tannehill is accomplished with the Tennessee Titans. A reunion with former Titans OC Arthur Smith (now in Pittsburgh) would make sense. Baker Mayfield joining the Steelers and going through the Browns twice a 12 months would be fun. Gardner Minshew II in Pittsburgh as a bridge for a rookie isn’t an awful idea. And maybe Jameis Winston getting a 2nd threat at starting quarterback is some thing the Steelers could kick around. What about Jimmy Garoppolo as soon as his cut from the Las Vegas Raiders is formally official?
Full disclosure: I’m wary of inserting any inventory in betting odds an an indicator of what is going to occur on the participant transaction market. After all, I’m old sufficient to take note when oddsmakers had Carson Wentz as the Bears’ subsequent quarterback in 2021. But with that being said, I feel as if this is well worth sharing for the sake of this conversation:No group has fewer passing touchdowns because the begin of the 2022 season than Pittsburgh. Even Bears quarterbacks have mustered up greater passing ratings than the Steelers. Sheesh. Ultimately, the Pittsburgh Steelers have to do *SOMETHING* at the role this offseason. Perhaps that “something” entails dialing up the Bears for some trade conversations. Stay tuned.
