Steelers Could Lose QB John Rhys Plumlee After He Was Drafted By The Arlington Renegades

The Pittsburgh Steelers made drastic changes to their quarterback room this offseason. From signing Russell Wilson, trading a conditional sixth round pick for Justin Fields, and trading away Kenny Pickett, there is a new aura surrounding the team. While many fans know that the starting position is most likely Wilson's until further notice, there is another quarterback fighting for a roster spot as well. John Rhys Plumlee out of UCF, signed with the Steelers after the 2024 NFL Draft after going undrafted. The 6'0" quarterback turned a lot of heads during rookie minicamp with his impressive athletic ability. 

If Plumlee doesn't make the 53-man roster, he does have a solid back up plan to fall back on. The 2024 UFL Draft was Wednesday and with the third overall pick, the Arlington Renegades selected Plumlee. This gives Plumlee a chance to get true game reps if he doesn't make the Steelers' roster, allowing teams to see what he can do. Many people have been very impressed with Plumlee's athleticism so far this offseason. Not only does he have a solid arm, his speed and elusiveness has allowed him to be open with the idea of returning kicks.

Plumlee was a duel sport athlete at both Ole Miss and UCF. Many people recognize him from his viral video where he played in both a baseball game and UCF's spring football game in the same night. In his fifth year at UCF, he started all 58 games in the outfield, batting .286 with 56 hits, 10 home runs, 32 RBIs, 43 runs, and used his speed to steal 18 bases. 

The UFL just finished their first season as a league after the XFL and USFL merged together. The Birmingham Stallions defeated the San Antonio Brahmas in the UFL Championship which featured several former Steelers players, like Carlos Davis, Taco Charlton, and Anthony McFarland. The new league has allowed players to showcase their abilities to NFL teams that may have overlooked them in the draft process or a second chance for a former veteran.

With Plumlee's skill set, many people have been starting to compare him to Taysom Hill, which could give him the edge over Kyle Allen for the third-string position on the depth chart. He showed his versatility during his five years in college, where he totaled 2,556 yards rushing with 28 touchdowns and added 26 receptions for 296 yards. As a pure quarterback, he finished his colligate career with 5,838 yards in the air with a 61.1% completion percentage and adding 34 touchdowns with 19 interceptions.

Decisions For Steelers' Plumlee Approaching Fast

If Plumlee decides to join the Renegades, he does have until December 31st to return to an NFL roster per league rules. With an opportunity to become a starting quarterback in the UFL however, he might just jump on it, especially if he does not make the cut for the 53-man roster in Pittsburgh. Could we see Plumlee make the same jump as we saw PJ Walker make in the XFL in 2020? Only time will tell, but for Plumlee, his mind is set to make the Steelers' roster for the 2024 season.

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