Though the Pittsburgh Steelers made the playoffs and Mike Tomlin is sticking round as head coach for at the very least yet another 12 months, they’re embarking on an offseason with many questions. Two of their largest issues — quarterback and offensive coordinator — are intertwined.
On Thursday, Tomlin made two issues clear in regards to the crew’s plans. First, the Steelers will likely be wanting exterior the constructing to fill the OC place. And, most significantly, 2022 first-round decide Kenny Pickett has a leg as much as be the beginning quarterback, though he’ll face competitors for the position.
Tomlin stated the crew is not going to “anoint” Pickett because the starter, including he hopes that competitors for him comes from Mason Rudolph, who went 3-0 within the common season because the starter however is a free agent this offseason.
So, with the chance of Pittsburgh’s subsequent OC being somebody new and Rudolph’s future in Pittsburgh unsure, it is time to have a look at some potentialities.
Primarily based on the uncertainty of who else will likely be within the quarterback room with Pickett, it is attainable the OC may include a veteran quarterback who has expertise operating his system. That QB in all probability would come on a tier beneath former Professional Bowlers Kirk Cousins (pending free agent) and Russell Wilson (out of favor in Denver).
One engaging identify for OC, though one which may be the least sensible, is Eric Bieniemy. He is nonetheless underneath contract with the Commanders, who’re out there for a brand new head coach after firing Ron Rivera.
If the Steelers have been to focus on Bieniemy, a veteran quarterback choice may very well be Jacoby Brissett. The 31-year-old NFL journeyman spent this previous season with Washington as Sam Howell’s backup.
Whereas Bieniemy might have misplaced steam as a head-coaching candidate across the league, he nonetheless coordinated a Washington offense through which Howell threw for 3,946 and 21 touchdowns in his second season within the league.
One other attainable OC candidate is Klint Kubiak, the son of former NFL head coach Gary Kubiak. Whereas Gary’s teaching profession is over, his son’s is on the rise. Klint serves because the 49ers passing recreation coordinator.
If Kubiak have been to go to Pittsburgh, 49ers backup QB Sam Darnold — a former first-round decide and pending free agent — would possibly make sense for the Steelers. The third total decide within the 2018 NFL Draft may be seen as a bust, however he is just one 12 months older than Pickett, who’s 25.
One other potential candidate is former Texans offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton, who now works for NFL Community after not being retained in Houston final 12 months. The Steelers confirmed curiosity in Hamilton in 2021.
If Pittsburgh have been to land Hamilton, present Giants backup QB Tyrod Taylor would possibly make sense for the Steelers, too. Hamilton labored with Taylor in 2020 with the Chargers.
It doesn’t matter what occurs within the offseason, it is probably the third quarterback to hitch Pickett and a veteran will likely be a draft decide. The Steelers maintain the twentieth decide within the first spherical of the draft, set for April 25 in Detroit.
