It’s NFL Scouting Combine time and rumors are swirling at about every turn from Indianapolis. With the league’s 32 teams and the front offices for each squad huddling for the annual dog-and-pony show, we’re also hearing concrete information from teams themselves.
That includes the Pittsburgh Steelers and general manager Kevin Colbert. The executive took to the podium in Indy on Wednesday and made a pretty interesting statement regarding the team’s draft plans. In short, Colbert indicated that Pittsburgh would not rule out selecting a quarterback in the first round of April’s draft.
#Steelers GM Kevin Colbert says Ben Roethlisberger’s stayed intention to play past his current contract “doesn’t change our evaluation process” of QBs. If star QB avail in first round? “We never dismiss any position.”
— Aditi Kinkhabwala (@AKinkhabwala) February 28, 2018
This makes perfect sense given that the Steelers need to find a quarterback of the future behind Ben Roethlisberger. The team currently has Landry Jones and 2017 mid-round pick Josh Dobbs under contract. Neither is seen as a legitimate starting quarterback in the NFL.
Big Ben has been hinting at retirement for some time now. Though, that changed recently with it becoming clear that he wants to play beyond his contract contract and the Steelers themselves are open to extending the future Hall of Famer (more on that here).
Roethlisberger, 35, has two years remaining on his current contract. And even if Pittsburgh was to extend him, acquiring a young quarterback to sit behind the veteran makes all the sense in the world.
Picking 28th overall in April’s draft, the upper-echelon quarterbacks will more than likely be off the board for Pittsburgh. This leaves a group headed by Lamar Jackson and Mason Rudolph as the likeliest potential options with that pick.
It’s definitely something to keep an eye on as draft season really gets going around the NFL.