Mitch Trubisky Signing Instantly Upgrades Steelers From Big Ben

The NFL's legal tampering period has kicked off with a frenzy, as free agent quarterback Mitchell Trubisky has reportedly found a new home in Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh and the former Chicago Bears' No. 2 overall pick turned Buffalo Bills backup have agreed on a two-year deal to be the expected starter in the Steel City.

The Steelers are banking on Trubisky's upside, along with his starting experience to take over the helm from franchise icon Ben Roethlisberger, who was playing on fumes in his age-39 season after 18 years in the league.

In his second season in Chicago, Trubisky had his best statistical season under Matt Nagy, going 11-3 in four games played, throwing 24 touchdowns to 12 interceptions, as well as rushing for 621 yards and three scores, averaging 30 rushing yards a game at 6.2 YPC.

After that, it was all downhill, despite him finishing with a winning record in both 2019 and 2020. Trubisky's completion percentage, touchdowns and TD/INT all went down in the final two seasons, leading him to head to the Bills for a fresh start, backing up MVP candidate Josh Allen in Brian Daboll's offense.

Is Mitch Trubisky an Upgrade over Ben Roethlisberger in Pittsburgh?

If we're looking extensively at Big Ben's final season, it's almost assuredly yes. Granted, Roethlisberger still found a way to go 9-7, with 22 touchdowns to 10 picks, but the Steelers found ways to win in spite of him, rather than because of him.

Roethlisberger could not throw the ball downfield. His 6.2 yards per attempt was the lowest of his career, and his QBR finished at 35.6, also the lowest of his career where he's started at least 12 games of more in a season.

The hope is in Pittsburgh, the Steelers' offense will use Trubisky's talents and athleticism in a much more impactful manner than when he was in Chicago. The massive critique on Matt Nagy was his inability to adapt the offense to his players' best strengths. Only when the playcalling changed midway through his final season in 2020 did the Bears (and Trubisky) end up with any meaningful success, as Chicago cut the field in half with play action passes, and allowed Trubisky to move the pocket and use his running ability to make plays.

On just a two-year deal, the move allows Pittsburgh to remain competitive in perhaps the toughest division in football, as well as allow for the possibility to develop a long-term answer at the position down the road if Trubisky doesn't work out.

The hype on the former top quarterback in the 2017 NFL Draft may have been a bit hyperbolic following a season out of the spotlight, but the Steelers could have done much worse.

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