Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is likely to retire at the end of the season. If Kevin Colbert thinks outside the box, these replacements could work.
Big Ben isn’t what he used to be, that much is clear. Despite some clutch come-from-behind wins — including last week against the Tennessee Titans — Roethlisberger isn’t the long-term answer at quarterback. In fact, the Steelers don’t have one of those on the roster as currently constructed.
The NFL Draft is an easy answer for the Steelers and Colbert, as they have a first-round pick likely in the middle of the round. While Pitt product Kenny Pickett and a few other signal-callers might be off the board, the Steelers should have other options available either via April’s showcase or free agency/trade.
Steelers could pursue Carson Strong in NFL Draft
Strong opted to skip his bowl game, and for good reason, as he’s flying up draft boards to the point he’s likely to be a first-round pick.
“As much as I would like to play one more season or even one more game in my Nevada uniform, after a lot of thought and consideration, I have decided that it is best for me to begin my preparation for the 2022 NFL draft,” Strong said in a Twitter post.
The Nevada product is a two-time Mountain West player of the year. He’s thrown for a 68.1 percent completion percentage and 74 touchdowns. While it’s not Power-5 competition, Strong has impressed enough in his tenure to get serious looks from Colbert and the Steelers.