After 18 years in the National Football League, it’s sounding more and more likely that the 2021-22 season will be Ben Roethlisberger‘s last. Over the last few years, Pittsburgh has taken stabs at potential replacements for Roethlisberger, usually utilizing late-round draft picks in hopes of molding a young prospect into a starter. But Roethlisberger potentially putting an end to his career when the season concludes places a lot more pressure on the Steelers to come up with a solution.
The easiest solution is to use the materials you already have. Pittsburgh currently has two quarterbacks on the active roster behind Big Ben and one on the injured reserve. Former first round pick Dwayne Haskins and Joshua Dobbs, currently on IR, both have contracts that expire at the end of the season, but it’s easier to have contract discussions with players already in the building than not.
Mason Rudolph is the team’s current primary backup. Rudolph beat out Dobbs for the second quarterback job and took over as the team’s starter in 2019 when Roethlisberger was ruled out for the season after an elbow surgery. Rudolph went 5-3 as the Steelers’ starter before getting benched for Devlin Hodges after struggling against a winless Bengals team. He completed 62% of his passes for 1,765 yards and threw 13 touchdowns to 9 interceptions on the year. Before the 2021 season, Rudolph signed a one-year extension, pushing his free agency back until after the 2022 season. Rudolph has appeared in one game this year, filling in as Roethlisberger was held out with COVID-19. In a game that resulted in a tie with the winless Lions, Rudolph completed 30 out of 50 pass attempts for 242 yards, throwing 1 touchdown and 1 interception.
Haskins was taken in the 2019 NFL Draft with the 15th overall pick by the Washington Football Team. He saw some game time for Washington in two games in the first 8 weeks of his rookie year, but earned his first start in Week 9 after the season’s original starter, Case Keenum, could not play with a concussion. Haskins took over the offense for every game but one for the rest of the season as he missed Week 17 with an ankle injury. Haskins retained the starting job to begin the 2020 season, but was benched in a Week 5 game against the Rams. He returned to the field when new starter Alex Smith left the game in Week 14 with an injury. Haskins started the next two games before being benched once again, this time for Taylor Heinicke. Haskins was released the next day due to some controversies with breaking COVID-19 protocols and not meeting the team’s standards off the field. In two years of play, Haskins completed 60% of his passes for 2,804 yards, throwing 12 touchdowns to 14 interceptions.
There are plenty of different directions Pittsburgh could go to replace Roethlisberger should this be his final season. While they haven’t quite proven to be world-beaters, Rudolph and Haskins do provide the Steelers with workable options that are already in the building. If the Steelers decide that they don’t think they can win a Super Bowl with the talent currently in their QB room, they’ll be sure to explore some options via free agency, trade, and the 2022 NFL Draft.
If the likes of Pitt’s Kenny Pickett, Ole Miss’s Matt Corral, North Carolina’s Sam Howell, or Liberty’s Malik Willis don’t pique the Steelers’ interest, Pittsburgh may look into a short-term free agent rental as they have in the past with quarterbacks Michael Vick and Bruce Gradkowski. Quarterbacks Jameis Winston, Andy Dalton, and Teddy Bridgewater are some of the bigger names set to hit the market this offseason that could delay the Steelers’ need to draft a quarterback until some more attractive prospects potentially surface in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Pittsburgh could also trade, as they did for Dobbs, with a number of quarterbacks rumored to be available for a price. Texans’ quarterback Deshaun Watson is obviously the most available option, due to a league investigation that could result in disciplinary action. 49ers’ quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo has been rumored to be available due to the expected emergence of 2021’s No. 3 overall draft pick, Trey Lance. Garoppolo is not known to be flashy, but has still accomplished a 30-13 record as a starter in the NFL. Two other veterans that have shown a little frustration with their current squads and may be open to a trade are Seattle’s Russell Wilson and Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers.
While Steelers’ management is certainly preoccupied right now with making the playoffs in a wild AFC, they will have much to consider when the season comes to an end. Whoever ends up under center for the Steelers in Week 1 of the 2022-23 NFL season, it will certainly be a change of pace for the franchise if the jersey doesn’t have fourteen letters across the top.
Mason Rudolph has show a ton of promise and deserves a shot, he has all pro talent.
At starting fights maybe
he didn’t start it but ok
Lol
He had his shot in 2019. Not a franchise guy.
You clearly don’t watch their games
‘A ton of promise’? He’s shown that his ceiling is mediocrity. He’s terrible. You’re wearing homer glasses.
At best he’s third string.
… and he lead them to a tie against the worst team in the league. Hard pass.
It really doesn’t matter who the quarterback is if they don’t fix the offensive line.
Indeed.. Ben actually has put up decent numbers with a horrible line & terrible play calling.. but its clear he’s on his last legs w/o protection. They do better in the 2nd half when he throws more and just opens it up. Fans gonna regret seeing this team w/o a solid QB for a long time after he leaves. For a guy that can’t throw deep or scramble and has no line, it’s amazing he’s 10th in passing yards this year, even while missing a game.
That entire line needs to be swapped out.
We’re seeing now just how valuable Maurkice Pouncey really was.
Not going to take long to evaluate. Can’t be as bad as Ben this year but if you’re going to get with Rudolph, prepare for another long season.
I’d rather sacrifice Rudolph next season behind it for sure too cause even with investments it’ll be young and/or take time to mesh depending on if through draft or FA. I don’t want him to suck for viewing sake, but I’d rather build out a team and increase desperately needed depth and if he is truly so bad (I know guys) we at least have a higher pick for a QB in hopefully a better draft for the position the following year. It’s going to be a multi year process unless they somehow replicate Belichick the last two years (see above), so that’s best case in my opinion.
Just throw Najee/Claypool/Dionte in the wildcat every snap and hope for the best. A better option then throwing out old man Ben or bum Rudolph.
Old man Ben did bring the Steelers within a touchdown of winning that game almost single-handly, so you’re probably wrong about that.
Rudolph is terrible, Hodges is even worse and barely pro-level, and it’s telling that Haskins can’t even get a shot. They’re going to have to look elsewhere, whether it’s trading for Wilson/Watson/Garoppolo, drafting someone, or signing a free agent. Staying in-house guarantees a losing season next year.
I could see Winston, Bridgewater being options.I could see Rodgers being an interesting option depending if they have the cap room. However my gut feeling says they bring in a veteran like Winston, Bridgewater or Dalton and draft a qb.
Kenny Pickett if available. If not, offensive line and CB/LB/S. Basically a reset.
Pickett would be nice. … behind a competent OL. Same for Sam Howell or Malik Willis. Rebuild the line first. Then worry about the QB.
For as bad as the Oline is, the #1 need is Dline.
To quote the late Chuck Noll, they have many problems and they are great. This is not a strong QB class in the 2022 draft. The Steelers need to total rebuild and need to concentrate on the OL and DL lines, ILB, and DB. They have caretaker QBs on the roster and they aren’t serious contenders at this point. Fix the glaring basic needs then get a QB.
The QB I’d consider drafting is Sam Hartman from Wake Forest, who should be available mid-rounds. Tough and smart. Excellent athlete.
Idk did you watch the ACCCG? Seemed to crack under pressure and spiral. Pass.
I think you focus this off season on Dline and Oline. I’m thinking if the Dline improves it’s makes the back 8 better.
Big Ben is done but the real question is whether GM Colbert is going to stick through a rebuild. If he follows Ben into retirement then the current in-house options are probably not going to be kept around by his successor.
Bridgewater would be the closest to the 14-letter/character requirement. He is a “Junior,” so they could put “Bridgewater Jr.” on the back of his jersey. If they want to meet the requirement on the offensive line, they could pick up Duvernay-Tardif next season.
Maybe with the right coaching Haskins can be something?
Mason Rudolph’s (Captain Checkdown) throwing mechanics are miserable.