If you're anything like me, you're heartbroken over the news Tuesday afternoon surrounding Green Bay Packers quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, and the newest member of the Denver Broncos, quarterback Russell Wilson. For the Pittsburgh Steelers, it's now looking harder than ever to not only reach the Super Bowl, but finish the upcoming regular season above .500 with just how tough the AFC is getting.
Wilson adds to an already loaded conference of quarterbacks that features the likes of Patrick Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs), Josh Allen (Buffalo Bills), Lamar Jackson (Baltimore Ravens), Joe Burrow (Cincinnati Bengals), Justin Herbert (Los Angeles Chargers), and Derek Carr (Las Vegas Raiders) just to name a few. Rising stars like Trevor Lawrence (Jacksonville Jaguars) and Mac Jones (New England Patriots) are looking to make a name for themselves as well. For the Steelers to compete with this level of talent, I don't know about yinz, but it's been a little depressing knowing that the team is STILL in the hunt for their next franchise quarterback -- especially seeing how other teams have been so willing to acquire the guy they want thus far this early in the off-season.
At this point, the Steelers need to do at least one of the following three things at the quarterback position to be as "Super Bowl ready" as they can heading into the 2022 regular season:
1) Trade for Deshaun Watson
We saw the Tampa Bay Buccaneers do it in 2020, and the Los Angeles Rams do it in 2021 -- both ending in championships. GO GET THE GUY YOU WANT. I feel like I'm going to be staring outside of my window for the next few days, watching the rainfall while listening to "Someone Like You" by Adele as I dream about what could've been to see Rodgers or Wilson in a Steelers uniform. I mean, did the Steelers even call? Are they even interested in a quarterback of that caliber? If they are, there's one more guy I think that meets that same mold. That's Deshaun Watson.
Now, I know. Despite Watson being a 3x Pro Bowler and the NFL's passing yards leader in 2020, he clearly has some off-the-field issues in his life currently that he needs to clean up. It's not looking promising for the 26 year old at the moment, but I say, if that gets cleared up come Friday (and that's a big IF), this has to be the Steelers number one priority -- no matter the cost.
Big day Friday for Deshaun Watson. https://t.co/znSEmybXk3
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 8, 2022
2) Draft Kenny Pickett or Malik Willis (if they fall to pick No. 20)
I wouldn't want to lose additional draft capital by trading up in next month's NFL Draft to acquire either of these young quarterbacks, but I will say, if either option is there at the 20th pick, why not grab one of them? President Art Rooney II, general manager Kevin Colbert, and head coach Mike Tomlin all seem to be high on both prospects, and we've seen the success recently in the league by young quarterbacks and what they can accomplish with a solid supporting cast.
They wouldn't have to necessarily start Week 1 right away, and both young talents have proven at the collegiate level that they know how to lead a team (on and off the field). Many fans have speculated how Pickett has "small hands" and if that will effect him at the professional level -- and if Willis has the accuracy to be a QB1 long-term. "They" said Joe Burrow had small hands too, and look how he's turning out. As for Willis, with his exceptional "escapability" gifts, I believe coach Tomlin and quarterbacks coach, Mike Sullivan, can set both him and Pickett up for true success.
3) DO NOT sign Mitchell Trubisky & co.
There seems to be a "Trubisky Train" forming in the Steel City, but that looks like a train wreck already to me.
Reports are flying in that the former Chicago Bears and Buffalo Bills quarterback will be getting "paid like a starter." I want no parts of that as the Steelers should focus most of their money on other holes on the roster, if it's not going to be for a top-tier quarterback.
Get Mitchell Trubisky his QB1 💰 pic.twitter.com/hjK2F9jRNc
— PFF Fantasy Football (@PFF_Fantasy) March 7, 2022
I see guys like Jameis Winston, Teddy Bridgewater, Jacoby Brissett, etc. all falling under this same category to me. I'd rather roll with what we have in-house (Mason Rudolph, Dwayne Haskins), build around them, and use that additional money to put towards other positions of need like offensive line, defensive line, middle linebacker, wide receiver, and of course, cornerback. Imagine some of that additional money going towards a player like J.C. Jackson or Stephon Gilmore instead of, well, Mitch Trubisky. And don't get me started on Jimmy Garoppolo. The guy is a winner, no doubt. But with his off-season shoulder surgery diagnosis looming, and an already suspect injury history, for $26M+ per year, plus additional draft picks to acquire him -- that's one situation I don't want any parts of.
With every thing we know now as of today, what do yinz think is currently the best option for the Steelers at the quarterback position? Is there any chance the team becomes "Super Bowl ready" come Week 1? Click to comment below!
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