For the first time in nearly two decades, the Pittsburgh Steelers are going to be in the market for a quarterback this NFL offseason. Ben Roethlisberger announced his retirement recently and the team will have some big shoes to fill as Roethlisberger will undoubtedly receive a gold jacket and be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
It is not going to be an easy job replacing such a legendary player, but someone is going to have to do it. The Steelers are in a position to quickly turn into contenders if they can fill a few holes on the roster and find a good upgrade at the quarterback position.
Roethlisberger’s waning arm strength and mobility would sometimes leave the offense stuck in the mud. He had a few vintage plays, but for the most part, this was an offense that was dink-and-dunk as teams keyed in on stopping the run game and the Steelers couldn’t take advantage through the air.
Luckily for Pittsburgh, there are several veteran options available this offseason. If they are unable to swing a trade for anyone, they can bring in a bridge quarterback in free agency to compete with Mason Rudolph and Dwayne Haskins while selecting a quarterback in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
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One of the players that they could target on the trade market is Jimmy Garoppolo of the San Francisco 49ers. Garoppolo is hoping to land with a winning franchise this offseason, as it has been made abundantly clear that the organization will be moving on from him and handing the keys to the offense to Trey Lance.
The Pittsburgh Steelers would certainly qualify as a winning franchise, as the team has never had a losing record with Mike Tomlin as head coach. With one year and a $26.9 million cap hit, Garoppolo would make for a good transitional quarterback in Pittsburgh.
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If he plays well, he can earn himself an extension and the Steelers have their guy for the next few seasons. If not, he is a free agent next year and Pittsburgh can find their quarterback of the future.
What would it take for the Steelers to land him? Over at ESPN, a simulated offseason was done with the writers that cover each team. Brooke Pryor offered a 2022 third-rounder, 2023 sixth-rounder and half of his salary for Jimmy Garoppolo.
Ultimately, that trade was denied in the mock, as the San Francisco 49ers with an offer from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. If that is all the Steelers are going to be willing to pony up for Jimmy Garoppolo, it is unlikely he will land in the Steel City.
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But, that is likely best for business for the Steelers. Acquiring someone such as Jacoby Brissett, who was mocked to them in the piece, makes a lot of sense. Brissett brings the mobility that the organization is looking for at the position and could be signed in free agency with a clear understanding of his role.
He would be given the opportunity to start in 2022, enabling their first-round draft pick, Sam Howell in this case, to sit and learn for a season. That is a good scenario to playout for the Pittsburgh Steelers, who would have a competent starter in Brissett leading the way this upcoming season and clearing the path for a young quarterback in Howell to take over down the road.
