Steelers targeting these 3 quarterbacks in free agency

The Pittsburgh Steelers could replace Ben Roethlisberger at least temporarily with one of these three quarterbacks in 2022 NFL free agency.

With Ben Roethlisberger having called it a career, the Pittsburgh Steelers may look to find his short-term successor in the wonderful world of NFL free agency.

As it stands now, the Steelers’ Week 1 starting quarterback would be veteran backup Mason Rudolph with former Washington bust Dwayne Haskins backing him up. The Steelers will be a defensive-led team next year, but neither of these guys will help Pittsburgh keep pace with Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson in division. While they could look to draft a guy, they may also sign one.

According to Tony Pauline of the Pro Football Network, the Steelers are targeting Liberty quarterback Malik Willis in the 2022 NFL Draft, as well as Mitchell Trubisky (Buffalo Bills), Teddy Bridgewater (Denver Broncos) and Jameis Winston (New Orleans Saints) in free agency.

Assuming Pittsburgh can draft Willis in the first round, what veteran should be the stop-gap?

Pittsburgh Steelers eyeing three veteran backup quarterbacks in free agency

The idea of solving the Steelers’ quarterbacking woes in free agency alone is a failing concept. Quarterbacks become available in free agency for three reasons. Either he was not good enough to stay with the team that drafted him, he is injury-prone or the team that drafted him does not know what they are doing. Bridgewater, Trubisky and Winston all check some of those boxes.

While Winston is the closest thing to Big Ben from a prototype standpoint, his reckless abandon nature will drive Steelers fans crazy. Trubisky could run a run-first offense, but he is only two years removed from failing in Chicago. As for Bridgewater, he is probably the safest bet of the three. However, he is a very limited player. Bridgewater can win some games though as the starter.

If the long-term plan is to draft and develop Willis, than any of those three makes sense as a quality stop-gap. However, Willis is incredibly raw coming out of Liberty. He has started games, but the former Auburn transfer did not play college football at the highest level. In short, he is not going to be ready to start as a rookie. For that reason, Bridgewater is the best bet of the three.

The only thing certain with the Steelers is they are entering an era of quarterbacking uncertainty.