The Pittsburgh Steelers knew they needed to make significant progress at the quarterback position going into the 2024 NFL offseason, but it was less obvious where that improvement would come from.
There are some well-known players at the position who might become available via trade or free agency.
The upcoming draft has some intriguing alternatives.
Alternatively, they may continue to use Kenny Pickett and hope that the quarterback they selected with the 20th overall pick just two years prior can play better.
In the event that they choose the third alternative, they must ensure they have a reliable standby in case Pickett experiences another setback.
Plaxico Burress, a former Steelers receiver, believes he knows who that quarterback ought to be. In an interview with Fox Sports Radio’s “Up On Game” on February 26, Burress stated that he believed Pittsburgh ought to sign San Francisco 49ers quarterback Sam Darnold.
“You know what appeals to me the most? People kind of look at me like, “Well, he’s not the most desirable guy,” but he fits, when I say this to them. It’s Darnold, Sam. He seems to fit Pittsburgh’s current goals, in my opinion. He’s not young Ben Roethlisberger, you hear me? He’s a respectable quarterback.
Overcoming An Unfavorable BeginningÂ
Darnold has some knowledge of the struggles Pickett faced in the early stages of his career.
When the Jets took him third overall, there were big hopes for him. He did not live up to such expectations at all.
In his three seasons in East Rutherford, Darnold battled errors in judgment and turnovers.
He threw 39 interceptions and completed slightly under 60% of his passes while playing with the Jets.
During those three years, he only completed 45 touchdown passes.
The Jets opted to let him go before his fourth season in the league, and they dealt him to the Panthers.
at his debut season at Carolina, he struggled once more, missing more than 60% of his passes and throwing four interceptions for every score.
Darnold began to turn things around in the Panthers’ second season with him.
After the team moved on from Baker Mayfield, he finally returned to the starting lineup after beginning the season on the bench behind Mayfield.
His struggles with accuracy persisted, but his turnover improved. He finished 4-2 in six starts and recorded his best career touchdown to interception ratio.
Darnold, who was benched by the 49ers during the 2023 season, would be a useful backup option for a different team in the upcoming campaign.
In an attempt to show the young quarterback how he began to mend his career, the Steelers may consider bringing in Darnold since they can’t afford to wait for Pickett to start to sort things out until year five.
Steelers quarterback situationÂ
Although the Steelers’ quarterback situation is still somewhat unclear, they have been strongly associated with a few candidates.
The Steelers have been mentioned a lot lately in relation to a trade for Justin Fields, and they are one of the favorites to acquire the Bears quarterback.
In addition, they are the odds-on favorite to sign Russell Wilson in the event that the Broncos release him. Wilson might choose to play for a contender in 2024 if he accepts a significant pay reduction, according to a recent report.
If the Vikings choose not to re-sign Kirk Cousins, they are also considering other options, particularly now that they should have a little bit more budget room than anticipated.
But, Mike Tomlin’s statement at his end-of-year news conference that the 2024 quarterback is already on the roster is the only hint the team has provided about what to expect at the position.
That means that in the event that Mason Rudolph departs, they might still require a backup.
There are also a ton of possibilities there.
Arthur Smith is a familiar face to Ryan Tannehill.
Throughout the league, Jacoby Brissett has proven to be a trustworthy stopper.
In 2023, Gardner Minshew almost led the Colts to the postseason.
And then there’s Darnold, who might try to get Pickett back on track by drawing on his own professional background.
The Steelers must come up with a clear plan soon because the new league year is about to begin.
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