Steelers: Mike Tomlin’s QB preference is the opposite of Ben Roethlisberger

Mike Tomlin let it be known what type of quarterback he hopes replaces Ben Roethlisberger on the Pittsburgh Steelers.

With Ben Roethlisberger retiring from playing ball, Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin knows exactly what type of quarterback he wants leading his team in the future: a mobile one.

While Roethlisberger was every bit a dual-threat passer coming out of Miami (Ohio) 18 years ago, a nagging hip injury severely limited his once-impressive mobility. Fortunately for the Steelers, there are plenty of mobile quarterbacks out there. Pittsburgh can either trade for one, draft one or sign one in free agency this offseason. No matter who it is, Big Ben’s successor will have a near-impossible time filling his big shoes.

While Tomlin’s future aspirations are clear, his way of landing a mobile quarterback remains shrouded in mystery at the moment. Should the Steelers sign a quarterback in free agency, draft a promising signal-caller out of college this spring, or trade for a guy they have had their eyes on for a while now?

Steelers: Mike Tomlin wants a mobile quarterback to replace Ben Roethlisberger

If the Steelers want to sign a mobile quarterback in free agency, Las Vegas Raiders backup quarterback Marcus Mariota makes sense. He was a dual-threat playmaker coming out of Oregon in 2015. While it did not pan out for him in the latter part of his Tennessee Titans days, Mariota is more than worthy of getting a second shot in this league as a starter.  After all, Ryan Tannehill, the quarterback who succeeded him in Nashville, stole the job away from Mariota with his own shot at redemption after mediocrity in Miami.

When it comes to a trade, the guy worth giving up the farm for is Russell Wilson. The Seattle Seahawks are almost certainly rebuilding, and it does not seem like Wilson wants to be there anymore. Since the Steelers franchise is fundamentally strong, Pittsburgh feels like a good place for Wilson to close out the final third of his Pro Football Hall of Fame career. It’s worth keeping in mind that dealing for him will be pricey.

As for what the NFL Draft offers, this may be the Steelers’ best course of action. While it is not a deep quarterback draft, it seems to offer what the Steelers are looking for: mobility and proven starters who played in big games. Whether it is hometown hero Kenny Pickett from Pitt, Matt Corral from Ole Miss, or Sam Howell from North Carolina, one of these three young quarterbacks may replace Big Ben.

While Roethlisberger’s replacement will need to have a cannon to succeed in the AFC North, apparently, Tomlin is more concerned about his successor having a sweet pair of wheels.