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Steelers Can’t Go Quarterback Early In This Year’s Draft

Even if a talented quarterback like Lamar Jackson (L) or Mason Rudolph (R) fall to them, Steelers must stay the course.

As we draw closer to the NFL Draft, Steeler fans are waiting in anticipation to hear whose name will be called to join the Black & Gold. Last season the Steelers struck gold in the first two rounds, selecting T.J. Watt out of Wisconsin and JuJu Smith-Schuster from Southern Cal. Both were able to make an immediate impact while becoming fan favorites in the process. Watt was an instant starter who brought much needed dynamic play to the outside linebacker position. Smith-Schuster was able to pull in one of the best seasons for a Steelers rookie wide receiver and solidified himself as the number two receiver in the offense behind Antonio Brown.

This year many believe the Steelers will go defense with their first two picks, especially to find a potential replacement for injured middle linebacker Ryan Shazier, who has already been ruled out for 2018, though he does wish to play again at some point in the future. But many draft pundits have the team looking towards the future on the other side of the ball, specifically the quarterback position.

Despite the fact the Steelers selected Joshua Dobbs out of Tennessee last year, there has been talk for months that they could draft another quarterback with one of their first two picks. Though Dobbs didn ?t wow anyone with his production during his inaugural preseason in the league, he looks to have a potential higher ceiling than Landry Jones. And it is not like Jones went anywhere, he is still projected to be Ben ?s backup this fall.

So are the Steelers trying to go after one of the big four in the quarterback class this year? That answer is no and could be a good thing in the long run, in my opinion. Outside of Sam Darnold, who looks more and more like he will go number one to the Browns, Josh Allen, Baker Mayfield and Josh Rosen all have red flags. Allen struggled with accuracy in his senior year at Wyoming against a weak Mountain West schedule. Mayfield has too much moxie for his own good at times, which could make him a target as an undersized quarterback in the league. Rosen could be the biggest bust of them despite probably having the best overall package of the four. His character has become his biggest question mark with a millennial attitude rubbing many coaches and scouts the wrong way. In my viewpoint, his toughness is also something that should be questioned. But barring one of the greatest draft falls of all time, these guys will be long gone before the Steelers pick. Then who are the Steelers potentially going after? That answer would be Oklahoma State ?s Mason Rudolph and Louisville ?s Lamar Jackson.

Both of these quarterbacks have been atop of the team ?s draft board since the Combine where they were interviewed by the club. Rudolph was a star in Mike Gundy ?s uptempo pass offense, leading the Cowboys to one of their best stretches since the Brandon Weeden days. Pitt fans definitely remember how well he clicked in that offense after he basically threw at will against the Panthers overmatched secondary. That included setting the record for the most passing yards given up by a Pitt defense in program history in 2016 during their first meeting in Stillwater. Pat Narduzzi is still losing sleep over that game. Over his last two seasons, Rudolph passed for over 9,000 and 65 touchdowns while only throwing 13 interceptions in that span. In 2017 he led the entire NCAA in passing with 4,904 yards. Despite being a prolific passer at Oklahoma State, the major red flag facing Rudolph is the fact that he may just be another system quarterback and will struggle in NFL. Weeden was that way, flaming out with the Browns before becoming a backup for several teams. Though the Steelers are not a wasteland for quarterbacks like Cleveland, taking a chance on Rudolph may not be in the best interest for the club.

Jackson may not only be the most intriguing quarterback in this draft, but the most intriguing prospect in this entire draft. In his three seasons with the Cardinals, the South Florida native put up some of the most impressive stat lines we have seen produced by a dual threat quarterback in the history of college football, especially in 2016 the year he captured the Heisman trophy. He was able to rack up 1,571 yards on the ground and 21 touchdowns while throwing for 3,543 yards and 30 touchdowns. Some games in that season he just looked invincible, with his speed reminding fans of Michael Vick. Hell, even Vick himself said Jackson is the second coming of himself but with a better arm. Though many like Vick feel this way, there are some who believe the Louisville star will flop at quarterback and end up like Pat White did when he was drafted out of West Virginia over a decade ago by the Miami Dolphins. And there are some, including former general manager Bill Polian, that think Jackson should make the move over to wide receiver like former Steeler Antwaan Randle El and the New England Patriots Julian Edelman. It is clear he has the dynamic ability to play in the league at a high level if given the chance to grow, but with the team already developing a quarterback like him in Dobbs, is he worth the investment of a first or second round pick?

Though Mike Tomlin may have been in person to see both these quarterbacks at their Pro Day, selecting a quarterback even in the second round isn ?t a winning formula for a team just a few pieces away from getting to a Super Bowl. The front office needs to go defense early in order to help this group finally get over the hump. Whether that be a middle linebacker like Reuben Foster from Alabama or Boise State ?s Leighton Vander Esch, there needs to be some young blood at the position because it is a crap shoot whether or not Shazier will ever be cleared again. Even if they get their linebacker in the first, the team should be considering adding another safety or outside linebacker into the mix with their second round pick. In most years it would make sense for the Steelers to take the best player on the board if that is Rudolph or Jackson, but with the Super Bowl inches away, defense is the only way to go.

Rich Donahue is a contributor to Point of Pittsburgh. He previously covered Duquesne basketball and recruiting for Pittsburgh Sports Now and was the editor for City of Champions, which is a part of the FanSided Network.

1 Comment on Steelers Can’t Go Quarterback Early In This Year’s Draft

  1. Kelechi Anozie // April 20, 2018 at 8:47 AM //

    Based on the QBs they’ve dined or have had pre-draft visits with, it’s very unlikely that they’ll be getting a QB anywhere in the first round. Perhaps in a few years this could be a different story, but not in this particular draft class. If they decide to go offense in the 1st round, the only player they’re likely to target is Derrius Guice; aside from him, they’re more than likely addressing defense in that round.

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