The Pittsburgh Steelers are one of the many teams that could be seriously considering a quarterback early in the 2022 NFL Draft. Long-time starter and future Hall of Famer, Ben Roethlisberger, announced his retirement earlier this offseason.
Replacing a legend like that is never easy. But for Pittsburgh, moving on from Roethlisberger was likely overdue, as his skills were deteriorating in recent seasons, especially after having to undergo surgery on his elbow in 2019.
That limited his already waning arm strength, limiting the Steelers’ offense. They turned into a short-pass offense, getting the ball out of Roethlisberger’s hands as quickly as possible. Part of that was a necessity given Roethlisberger’s form, but the offensive line also wasn’t very strong and needed to be compensated for.
Pittsburgh made some changes in the trenches this offseason, and that is certainly a position they could focus on with the 20th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. They did sign a stopgap option in free agency in Mitchell Trubisky, so the Steelers know they at least have a starting option for the upcoming season.
If not Trubisky, the Steelers also have Mason Rudolph and Dwayne Haskins on the roster as options under center. Thus far in their careers, all three have had more turnover-worthy plays than big-time throws, which is concerning.
Is it worth the risk, to see if one of them can come into better form throughout the offseason and seize the starting job? That is something the Steelers will have to weigh in the coming weeks leading up to the draft, as there is a prospect that could fit what they are looking for perfectly.
Desmond Ridder out of Cincinnati brings a lot to the table that Pittsburgh is looking for in the quarterback position. He has a ton of experience as a four-year starter with the Bearcats. That is key, especially if he is asked to play early in his career.
The entire organization would also like to add a quarterback that has some athleticism to his game, which Ridder provides. He rushed for 2,180 yards in his collegiate career, scoring 28 touchdowns on the ground.
Through the air, he was just as productive. He improved each season at Cincinnati, culminating in a senior year in which he recorded a grade of 90.7. Ridder completed 64.9 percent of his passes, throwing for 3,334 yards and 30 touchdowns compared to only eight interceptions. Batted passes were an issue at times, but that can be cleaned up with some more experience and a quicker windup and operation.
If Ridder is still on the board when the Steelers come on the clock, it will be very difficult for them to pass him up. He brings everything to the table that the Steelers are looking for in their quarterback of the future. Given the other options currently on the roster, he would be afforded the chance to sit and learn during his rookie season should he need it.
