The Steelers have a real quarterback question for the first time since 2004.
That was the last time the franchise drafted a quarterback in the first round of the NFL Draft. That QB was Ben Roethlisberger, who won two Super Bowls and pieced together an 18-year career worthy of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Roethlisberger retired after the 2021 season, and that opens up the question. Will Pittsburgh select a quarterback in the 2022 NFL Draft? Sporting News takes a look at the QB situation in the Steel City.
MORE: NFL Mock Draft 2022: Complete 7-round edition
Steelers QBs: 2021 recap
Ben Roethlisberger led Pittsburgh to an AFC Wild card berth in his final season. He started in 16 regular-season games and finished with 3,740 yards, 22 TDs and 10 interceptions. Backup Mason Rudolph started one game when Roethlisberger tested positive for COVID-19.
Roethlisberger retired after 18 seasons. He finished with 64,088 passing yards, 418 TDs and 211 interceptions. Big Ben also had a 13-10 record in the playoffs. That included victories in Super Bowl 40 and Super Bowl 43.
Steelers QBs: 2022 room
Pittsburgh has two quarterbacks on the roster.
The Steelers added Mitchell Trubisky on a two-year, $14.28 million contract this offseason. Trubisky, a first-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, was a backup for the Bills last season.
Rudolph was a third-round pick in 2018, and he's made 10 starts in four seasons. The Steelers are 5-4-1 in those games, and Rudolph has 16 TDs and 11 interceptions. That included last year's 16-16 tie with Detroit.
Dwayne Haskins was the Steelers' third quarterback last season and was on the active roster for one game. Haskins died on April 9, 2022 when he was struck by a dump truck while attempting to cross a highway.
MORE: Quarterback-only mock draft
Which QBs are first-round material in 2022 NFL Draft?
The Steelers have the No. 20 pick in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Liberty's Malik Willis likely will be the first quarterback off the board, but Pittsburgh would have to trade up into the top 10 to get him. That's unlikely at this point.
Pitt's Kenny Pickett would be a popular hometown pick. The Heisman Trophy finalist led the Panthers to the ACC championship, and he finished with 4,319 yards, 42 TDs and just seven interceptions last season. Pickett's hand size was a popular topic at the NFL Combine, but he will get drafted in the first round.
Cincinnati's Desmond Ridder is the other option. Ridder led the Bearcats to the College Football Playoff last season and had 87 TDs and 28 interceptions as a four-year starter. He added 29 rushing TDs. Ridder will likely be available at that point.
Why the Steelers should draft a QB
Look at the AFC North. Cincinnati has Joe Burrow. Baltimore has Lamar Jackson, and Cleveland added Deshaun Watson. Burrow has led a Super Bowl run, Jackson has been a NFL MVP and Watson is trying to restore his career (and reputation) with the Browns.
Pittsburgh is the only team in the division that does not have a long-term option in place at the most important position. Roethlisberger was 67-22-1 against the Bengals, Browns and Ravens — a .750 career winning percentage within the division.
The Steelers need to put together a plan for the future, and Pickett or Ridder could be groomed in a year behind Trubisky or Rudolph. This is a better plan than fishing for a Day 2 quarterback like North Carolina's Sam Howell and hoping the stopgap works out.
Speaking of that, here is a reminder of the quarterbacks that Pittsburgh drafted while Roethlisberger was the starter: Rudolph (2018), Joshua Dobbs (2017), Landry Jones (2013), Dennis Dixon (2008) and Omar Jacobs (2006). All of those guys are career backups.
Why the Steelers should wait at QB
The Steelers have only drafted a quarterback in the first round three times. Terry Bradshaw (1970) and Roethlisberger (2004) combined for six Super Bowls. Mark Malone (1980) had the unenviable task of following Bradshaw, and the next first-round quarterback will face the same challenge post-Big Ben.
In other words, the Steelers have to be right here. If Pickett or Ridder isn't a sure thing, then why not find out if Trubisky can revive his career like Tommy Maddox did in 2002. That would give Pittsburgh time to find the right guy.
Next year's quarterback class could feature Ohio State's C.J. Stroud, Alabama's Bryce Young and Florida's Anthony Richardson, among others.
The Steelers didn't go all-in for Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson or Deshaun Watson via the trade market this season, but that is becoming a more common practice in the league. Perhaps Pittsburgh goes that route next season.
There is no need to panic. That's what Cleveland did this offseason.
Verdict: Steelers draft first-round QB
SN's Vinnie Iyer has the Steelers drafting Ridder in his latest seven-round mock draft. Iyer writes:
"The Steelers cannot mess around with Mason Rudolph or limited bridge options such as Mitchell Trubisky. They could think offensive line here, but Ridder's experience, leadership, strong arm and sometimes dazzling athleticism provides the ideal makeup for Mike Tomlin's next playmaking leader to replace Ben Roethlisberger."
ESPN's latest mock draft featuring Mel Kiper and Todd McShay has the Steelers taking Pickett with the No. 20 pick. Kiper writes:
"Will Pickett go higher than No. 20? Probably. But without trades and with the Saints getting two instant starters and forgoing a quarterback in this scenario, Pittsburgh is the most logical landing spot for him. I wouldn't be surprised if he beat out Mitch Trubisky."
It's two different names, but the forecast calls for Pittsburgh to bring its next quarterback in 2022.
