Home Steelers Offseason Quarterback Question Has Divided Many Steelers’ Fans Into Factions

Quarterback Question Has Divided Many Steelers’ Fans Into Factions

by Steeldad
Rudolph and Haskins. steelcityblitz.com

In case you haven’t already figured this out, there are going to be far more fans pissed off than there will be happy. I refer of course to the quarterback situation of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Go ahead and survey 10 fans and you’re likely to get seven to ten different answers as to who they believe the next QB should be. What you have is a reflection of society in general. Everyone has gone “tribal” and broken into any number of factions. These are the ones I see right now.

The Mason Rudolph Faction

These are the fans who are resigned to the fact that replacing Ben Roethlisberger isn’t going to happen in one season. They see Rudolph as a guy who was thrust into the starting role way before he was ready for it and believe he’s the best of what the Steelers currently have.

They also tend to believe there isn’t a free agent available that is so much better than Rudolph that he’s worth going after. They see Marcus Mariota or Mitchell Trubisky or Jameis Winston and just don’t see that much of an upgrade to where the money is worth it. Therefore, just ride with Rudy and find your QB in a much better draft class in 2023.

The Free Agent Faction

These folks feel the exact opposite of the group above. They want nothing to do with Rudolph and have every belief that one of the free agents above or someone else would be better.

Is part of that feeling just a genuine dislike of Rudolph? Probably but there’s some merit to their feelings that he just can’t get the job done consistently enough. Mariota, Trubisky and Winston all have more experience as do guys like Teddy Bridgewater. With plenty of cap space, sign one of them and let’s go.

The Trade Faction

No one disagrees that trading for Aaron Rodgers, Derek Carr, Russell Wilson or Jimmy Garoppolo makes the Steelers better. But the price to get any of these guys may require more than what the team should or could pay.

To any of the fans in this group any trade is worth the improved quarterback play. This is where the group itself fractures. Some are willing to give up the farm for Rodgers or Wilson while others may be more willing to part with a couple of mid-round picks for Garoppolo. Regardless, they all agree a trade is the Steelers’ quickest way to avoid a serious step backwards.

The Rookie Faction

This group believes that drafting and playing a rookie is the way to go. They assume this especially of Pitt QB Kenny Pickett. Part of this is rooted in history. If Ben Roethlisberger can start as a rookie then why can’t Pickett or Malik Willis or Sam Howell? The problem is that in a regular class of draft-eligible QBs, these guys would be lucky to see the second round. That’s not to say that one or two or all of them won’t go on to be good NFL quarterbacks but based on their overall abilities and resumes it’s highly unlikely.

The Haskins Faction

You didn’t think this one existed? Oh it does and it has more members than you may have thought. Some are Ohio State fans who saw Dwayne Haskins catch fire and lead the Buckeyes to the National Title a few years back. They are confident he can do the same if given the opportunity in Pittsburgh.

Haskins has a lot of physical tools including an arm that could double as a rocket launcher but his time in Washington wasn’t good. In training camp last year he showed some promise right through some preseason action. The bottom fell out however when he went up against the first team in what was thought to be his big chance to unseat Rudolph as the backup. He’s expected to return as a restricted free agent and to be very honest, this may be his last real opportunity.

Ultimately I believe the Steelers will sign a free agent to compete with Rudolph. If Willis or Pickett is there in the second round I think that becomes a strong possibility as well but right now I don’t see anything more than that.

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