Backup QB is the Biggest Pre-Draft Priority for the Steelers
By Scott Rogust
The Pittsburgh Steelers are pushing in all of their chips and banking on the success of Ben Roethlisberger, even though he's 38 years old and coming off right elbow surgery. Pittsburgh has two young quarterbacks on the roster in Mason Rudolph and Devlin Hodges, but it's unknown if they can truly be quality contingency plans based on what we saw this past season.
Even though both backups are young, the Steelers really need to explore more quality options at the position ahead of the upcoming NFL Draft.
ESPN says QB Jacob Eason to the Steelers at 49. That's insanity. Will never happen. However, upgrading the QB depth chart is the right move. With vet backup. Steelers have Mason Rudolph blind spot. He stinks. McShay is right about that.
— Andrew Fillipponi (@ThePoniExpress) March 31, 2020
Once Big Ben went down with his season-ending injury, the Steelers expressed the utmost confidence in Rudolph. So much, in fact, that they willingly traded their 2020 first-round pick for Minkah Fitzpatrick. Rudolph showed flashes early on, but regressed and ended up on the bench later in the season.
Hodges didn't make the most of the opportunity either, as he was benched for Rudolph, but later reentered after the Oklahoma State alum suffered a shoulder injury.
The Steelers need a true fallback plan if Roethlisberger were to go down again with an injury. With the Cleveland and Cincinnati Bengals improving, Pittsburgh can't afford to find themselves at the bottom of the AFC North standings.
I can’t help but think that the #Steelers are a logical landing spot for either Cam or Jameis.
— Cam (@cameron_slaven) March 31, 2020
Clearly Hodges/Rudolph are not capable backups, and Ben is always banged up & near the end of the line anyway.
Imagine how the Steelers 2019 season unfolds with a strong backup QB.
They need to bring in a quarterback like Jameis Winston, who has starting experience. He can make the most of the opportunity by learning from Roethlisberger, while eventually proving that he's worthy of being a starter in the NFL again, a la Teddy Bridgewater.
Either that, or go out and acquire quarterback Josh Rosen. He's not going to be the guy for the Miami Dolphins, and sitting behind Roethlisberger could do wonders for the former 2018 first-round pick. Plus, he won't cost much in a trade.
Either way, the Steelers need a viable backup quarterback this upcoming season as insurance for a worst-case scenario.