While the Denver Broncos prepare for the New England Patriots on Sunday, the Pittsburgh Steelers will be discussing topics like free agency, trades and the upcoming draft. However, one big topic they will discuss is their quarterback situation.
Let’s be honest, Ben Roethlisberger isn’t as young as he used to be, and Landry Jones is certainly not the future most fans would want. Roethlisberger did have a decent season, considering all the injuries he went through, finishing it off by throwing for 3,938 yards, 21 touchdowns, and a quarterback rating of 94.5. One number that certainly did not go in his favor was his interception number. Roethlisberger threw 16 interceptions this past season, when in the 2014-2015 season he only threw nine interceptions.
Injuries had him only playing in 12 games, starting 11 of them. In his place, Michael Vick started games against the Baltimore Ravens, San Diego Chargers and the Arizona Cardinals in the month of October. Vick also saw action in the games against the San Fransisco 49ers and the St. Louis Rams. However, against the Cardinals, he was forced to be replaced by Jones as he suffered a hamstring injury.
Before suffering his hamstring injury, Vick, in his five games he played, threw for 371 yards, two touchdowns and had one interception. The numbers that don’t point in right direction are his two fumbles when he rushed the ball, which he did so for 99 yards, and his 79.8 quarterback rating.
However, Jones’ has no room to brag, because his numbers aren’t much better. Jones played in seven games, starting two of them, and threw for 513 yards for three touchdowns and had four interceptions. He rushed the ball a total of five times and lost a total of five yards. Jones also has one fumble lost under his name. Jones even has a worse quarterback rating than Vick does, with his being 77.3.
Neither of those numbers really carry much positive weight. The Steelers also have another quarterback added to the list. Bruce Gradkowski sat out this year after dislocating his finger. He had surgery on the finger on Aug. 25, which led to the Steelers sending him to the injured reserve list and calling Vick in for a try-out.
When it comes down to it, the Steelers need to look toward the future. Roethlisberger isn’t getting any younger, but he certainly has a few more years left in the tank, as long as the injuries are decreased. As for his backup next season, the team has Vick and Gradkowski as free agents. Both players have plenty of experience with Vick being a 15-year veteran and Gradkowski being in the league for 10 years. One of the two will certainly be re-signed as a fellow veteran presence in the locker room and to help out a younger quarterback.
That begs the question: what should the Steelers do with Jones? The Steelers drafted him in the fourth round of the 2013 NFL Draft where he signed a four-year deal. The Steelers selected him as former backup Charlie Batch hit the retirement road. However, the Steelers, and their fans, have been less impressed with their views of Jones in the preseasons and this past regular season.
So should the Steelers draft another young quarterback and get rid of Jones? Maybe, but certainly not too early. The Steelers, if they would select a new quarterback, should look for one in the third or fourth round. Roethlisberger needs someone to teach for whenever he retires. The Steelers have a few options. Christian Hackenberg from Penn State University has been projected somewhere around the second or third round. Also third- and fourth-round projections include Dak Prescott from Mississippi State University, Cardale Jones from Ohio State University and Jake Coker from the University of Alabama.
The Steelers have a history, as do many other NFL teams, to only having three quarterbacks on their roster. Roethlisberger is obviously a lock, but the offseason, the near offseason, will certainly have a decision on the futures of Vick, Gradkowski and Jones.
