Ben Roethlisberger will be the Steelers’ quarterback in 2021, although it took longer than expected to iron that out.
The offense will be exactly the same.
Roethlisberger didn’t come back for one last season to implement new bells and whistles, line up under center, use jet sweep motion or even much play-action.
Roethlisberger took a pay cut. Once the football part starts, that offense belongs to him. It will be identical.
The Steelers won’t cut Roethlisberger, bench him, or even speak sternly to him. He can do what he wants, and will.
The offense will either work, or it won’t.
That much is certain about the Steelers’ quarterback position.
What’s less certain is who succeeds Roethlisberger as the Steelers’ starter.
Steelers QBs coach Mike Sullivan was at Alabama’s pro day to scout quarterback Mac Jones. Would the Steelers take a quarterback in the first round?
Probably not. If they don’t use the 24th pick overall to take a player who can help immediately, there’s no point in Roethlisberger playing. (Jones is highly unlikely to drop that far, anyway. San Francisco might take him at No. 3 overall.)
The fantasy in Yinzer Nation is that the Steelers miraculously draft the next Roethlisberger, or the next Terry Bradshaw. But the Steelers were lucky to have those two, and there were 34 years between those drafts.
The New York Jets would reportedly trade quarterback Sam Darnold for a third-round pick. The Steelers should consider that. (They won’t.)
Darnold is 23. He was third pick overall in the 2018 draft. Darnold has largely disappointed in three seasons with the Jets.
But the key phrase is “with the Jets.” It’s a terrible organization. Since Joe Namath retired, the franchise’s big quarterbacking move is the butt fumble.
Did Darnold kill the Jets, or did the Jets kill Darnold?
The Steelers should risk that it was the latter. Look at his pre-draft scouting reports. Darnold was thought to have major talent. Then he got to the Jets. Like Hall-of-Fame linebacker Jack Ham once said, “If New Orleans drafts me, no one would have ever heard of me.”
Darnold has already started 38 NFL games. Consider it an internship.
Darnold and JuJu Smith-Schuster played together at Southern California. Trade for Darnold now. Smith-Schuster can show Darnold the city, advise him about branding and if there’s time, teach him the offense. They could dance together on TikTok.
The Steelers used a third-round pick on Mason Rudolph in 2018. Why wouldn’t they use one to get Darnold now?
Speaking of Rudolph, he figures to be on the very periphery of this conversation. His contract runs out at the end of the coming season. He might be kept because of his familiarity with the offense, but Rudolph is more likely to continue at backup than he is to start. He’s played 15 games, started nine, and not shown enough to merit consideration as the starter.
That leaves Dwayne Haskins.
When the Steelers inked Haskins to a cheap deal after this past season, it seemed an inexpensive flyer on a disappointing talent, nothing more.
But Haskins has a story similar to Darnold’s. He’s also 23. He was a high pick, going to Washington 15th overall in 2019. He entered a situation similar to the Jets in terms of legit wretchedness. Haskins bombed. But did Haskins kill Washington, or did Washington kill Haskins? Haskins started 13 games at Washington so he, too, has served his internship.
Haskins’ off-field issues contributed to his demise at Washington, but those mostly involved breaking covid protocol. He wasn’t committing felonies or dancing on logos.
Haskins’ pre-draft scouting wasn’t glowing like Darnold’s, but he has pedigree. Haskins isn’t very polished. He’s got a big arm, though. It’s stronger than Darnold’s.
So, perhaps the Steelers figure they already have their version of Darnold.
Here’s wagering that Haskins begins the 2022 season as the Steelers’ starting quarterback.
Will it work?
Haskins is no worse of a bet than any of the Steelers’ other possibilities. Superior coaching and resources should elevate. If, indeed, the Steelers have those.
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Mark Madden Columns | Sports | Steelers/NFL
