Steelers Fans Are Going to Love Mel Kiper's Projected Second-Round Pick for Them
The Pittsburgh Steelers have to start thinking about the future at quarterback after Ben Roethlisberger. The team saw enough from Devlin "Duck" Hodges and Mason Rudolph in 2019 to know that a new option must be brought in soon.
Mel Kiper's latest mock draft dropped Tuesday and he has the Steelers making a bold selection with their first pick, which comes at No. 49 overall. The move is one that would put Big Ben on the clock and potentially change up the style of play in Pittsburgh.
Mel Kiper Jr. has the Steelers drafting QB Jalen Hurts 49th. He would be Steelers' highest-drafted QB since taking Big Ben 11th in 2004.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) April 14, 2020
In fact, 5 of 6 teams taking QB in Kiper's mock are looking at their highest-drafted QB since a very successful pick (exception: Raiders). pic.twitter.com/qYpc1NYFqc
Drafting Jalen Hurts with the top pick would be quite the notable move. The Steelers do not pick again until No. 102 overall and would be committing to Hurts for the future, or at least as a future piece of some innovative offensive packages.
Such a pick should excite Steelers fans, who have seen Roethlisberger deal with a cavalcade of injuries and miss nearly the entire 2019 season. He is only under contract through 2021, and that would give Hurts plenty of time to adjust to the NFL and get reps in practice.
.@MelKiperESPN is projecting Jalen Hurts to the Steelers in the second round.
— First Take (@FirstTake) April 14, 2020
"They need an heir-apparent to Big Ben." pic.twitter.com/jv10UiK1mh
Hurts would be a low-risk option in the sense where the team is not giving him tens of millions of dollars on his rookie deal. That is great for the Steelers, as Roethlisberger's cap hit goes up to $41.25 million in 2021, with a dead cap hit of $22.25 million.
Roethlisberger has not been thrilled with his team drafting quarterbacks in the past. But he has to realize his career is almost over and the Steelers have to look into replacing him. Hurts starting in the AFC North could make it one of the most exciting divisions in football throughout the next decade.