Should The Steelers Draft A QB In Round 1?

The Pittsburgh Steelers are starting a new era, as they are heading into their first season without Ben Roethlisberger at quarterback since 2003.

Knowing they needed someone to fill that spot who can play (at least a little bit), they acquired Mitchell Trubisky, a QB who has had limited success but has shown some potential in five seasons, mostly with the Chicago Bears.

Since he is not a lock to be the team’s long-term solution under center, some wonder if they should draft a quarterback with their first pick in the upcoming NFL Draft.

Although the Steelers inched into the playoffs with a 9-7-1 record this past season, missing the postseason in 2022 would likely cause some anxiety throughout Steeler Nation, a fan base that has almost come to expect having a shot at the Super Bowl each year.

Whether Pittsburgh should angle for a QB in the draft is a question that may be more complex than it seems.

This Draft Is Not Looking Good In Terms Of QBs

Many pundits feel that there are several wide receivers in the 2022 draft class who could turn out to be stars, but the same is not true when it comes to quarterbacks.

Head coach Mike Tomlin and general manager Kevin Colbert spent plenty of time at pro days scouting signal-callers who will be available on draft day, but some feel that they will amount to nothing more than borderline starters.

It has been rumored that they may have interest in Malik Willis from Liberty University, but he may be off the board once the Steelers are on the clock with their 20th overall pick.

Can the Steelers land QB Malik Willis in next week’s draft? I’ve though all along it’s the perfect marriage. pic.twitter.com/u87g4WCOJz

— Todd McShay (@McShay13) April 21, 2022

They could trade up to nab him or someone else, but with the team’s immense holes at wideout, and the breadth of potential at that position in this class, they may be better served taking a flanker with that 20th selection.

Besides, next year’s draft could have some talented QBs, and if that pans out, Pittsburgh won’t want to miss out.

One also shouldn’t ignore how hard it is to replace a franchise QB through the draft, especially one such as Roethlisberger who brought two Super Bowl titles to Western PA.

After Terry Bradshaw retired in 1984, the Steelers went through several false prophets at the position, including Mark Malone, Neil O’Donnell and Kordell Stewart, before Big Ben fell into their laps.

Could Trading For A Quarterback Be The Answer?

Another option could be packaging a draft pick, whether it’s a first-round selection or one later in the draft, to acquire a signal-caller from another team.

Baker Mayfield, who not too long ago set the NFL rookie record for touchdown passes, is still available, and perhaps, at worst, he could be a placeholder for a few years while keeping the Steelers competitive.

There is also Jimmy Garoppolo, an above-average QB who has led the San Francisco 49ers to the NFC Championship Game in two of the last three years.

I prefer Jimmy Garoppolo over Baker Mayfield. He does the small things well. Works his way through his progression, resets his feet and delivers a strike under pressure. pic.twitter.com/t5dzD8N0tl

— The 4 Man Rush (@4ourmanrush) April 21, 2022

He also took them to Super Bowl LIV, where they held a big lead in the fourth quarter before falling to Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs.