The Steelers don’t have the benefit of the historically great quarterback draft class everyone hoped for, but will they bite? While they may like their quarterbacks, they certainly don’t have a no-brainer future franchise guy. The organization has fanned the flames of Will Howard, but he hasn’t even taken a preseason snap just yet.
Thus far, the Steelers have brought in two quarterbacks for a pre-draft visit and there surely will be more. They are taking a good look at the class through the Combine and the Pro Day circuit, and they have enough draft picks to move around the board if they so choose. But would they really draft one? Pittsburgh Post-Gazette beat writer Brian Batko shared his assessment recently on the #1 Cochran Sports Showdown.
“It’s starting to remind me a little bit of last year where they did their homework on Jaxson Dart, Tyler Shough, even Shedeur Sanders came in here for a pre-draft visit. It definitely reminds me of 2022 where they were really beating the bushes on all those guys”, he said of the Steelers’ current quarterback draft homework.
“On one hand, yeah, it makes me think that they’re looking to at least bring in somebody to compete for a spot on the roster”, he added. Batko also suggested Mason Rudolph would be the quarterback to lose out to a rookie if the Steelers draft somebody. “But maybe this is just life when you’re looking for that long-term franchise guy. You essentially have to scout the class and do your research and prep every single year”.
The latter is certainly right, and it’s something former HC Mike Tomlin talked about long ago. Around the time that Ben Roethlisberger started dropping hints about winding down, the Steelers started taking a closer look at quarterback draft classes. That’s why they drafted Mason Rudolph in 2019, albeit in the third round. They had a first-round grade on him, so they couldn’t pass up the opportunity.
Will the Steelers have a first-round draft grade on any of their year’s quarterbacks within reach? While the class has Fernando Mendoza at the top, there is a steep drop-off from there. At least in the eyes of most. General consensus anticipates Ty Simpson will be a first-round pick, but should he be? And should the Steelers be the team that makes him one? I don’t think you would find many fans who would support that move, even if the draft is in Pittsburgh.
The Steelers campaigned for years to land a draft here, and they may have had visions of landing their future franchise quarterback in front of the city of Pittsburgh. That seems exceedingly unlikely at this point, but will they take a swing? Or is this simply life without a franchise quarterback? Clearly, they are turning over about every stone they manage to stumble upon
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