Tim Benz: Ben Roethlisberger, his draft peers and QB mortality
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On Wednesday, I got this text from someone who covers another NFL team besides the Steelers. He was at the Senior Bowl practices in Mobile, Ala.
“(Mike) Tomlin is standing right here watching quarterbacks pretty closely.”
Sure. I admit it. Upon reading that, my brain went places for a cheap clickbait story.
We could’ve splashed a headline on the top of the Sports section: “Tomlin focusing on quarterbacks for upcoming draft.”
(Um, note to editors: Please change the headline of this post to “Tomlin focusing on quarterbacks for upcoming draft” as soon as possible. Thanks.)
The truth is, the Steelers’ head coach was probably just curious to see what a completed pass looked like. He didn’t see much of that the last three weeks of his team’s season. I bet he needed a reminder.
But knowing how Tomlin and Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert operate at the Senior Bowl and throughout the entire draft process, they often aren’t just scouting for this year’s selection process.
They are scouting for free agency four or five years down the line.
Or, in the case of safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, the trade market one year later.
Or even scouting to have a point of reference on certain guys whom they may see as future opponents.
How many times have you heard Tomlin and company reference what they remember on tape from (player X’s) days at (fill in the blank) University when discussing an upcoming game or a recent signing?
So maybe he was just checking out the quarterbacks for down the road. Plus, since the Steelers don’t have a first-round pick, most of the top-notch quarterbacks will likely be gone by the time they pick at No. 48 in the second round.
Not to mention, the Steelers have many other needs on offense, such as wide receiver, running back, tight end and guard.
Perhaps outside linebacker, too, if they can’t figure out a way to keep Bud Dupree.
Then there’s the small matter of Ben Roethlisberger’s potential return from elbow surgery. If he’s healthy, they certainly don’t need another quarterback.
Especially since they just drafted Mason Rudolph in the third round two years ago.
But what if Roethlisberger’s elbow doesn’t heal properly between now and April? What if he has a setback? What if the Steelers really aren’t as comfortable with Rudolph as Roethlisberger’s backup as they claim?
Let alone as Roethlisberger’s potential replacement.
Furthermore, I couldn’t ignore the fact that I got that text on the same day we found out New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning would retire.
At the same time as the NFL world is wondering if Phillip Rivers is done with the Chargers in Los Angeles.
Those two fellow Pro Bowl quarterbacks were part of Roethlisberger’s draft class in 2004.
One career is over. Another is at a crossroads. And Roethlisberger’s is totally up in the air based on his health.
So could you blame Tomlin if he is looking at quarterbacks? For this year or for the near future?
A quality signal-caller could slip toward the bottom of the first round. Baltimore Ravens star Lamar Jackson was the last pick in the first round.
Maybe the Steelers could figure out a way to trade into the first round. Or the early second.
Of all the many needs the Steelers have on offense, none is greater than fixing the quarterback position if Roethlisberger can’t regain his form.
But they won’t think that way. And frankly, they shouldn’t.
Whenever Roethlisberger’s replacement is acquired, it should be done with clarity and conviction. Not on half-measures and baby steps.
It should be done when it’s clear Roethlisberger is finished. As the Chargers will likely now do to replace Rivers. As the Giants did in advance of last year to replace Eli Manning by selecting Daniel Jones with the sixth pick in the 2019 draft.
Rudolph was a half-measure. A third-round guy who is maybe the next Big Ben. But maybe not even good enough to outplay some guy from Samford named “Duck” to be the backup.
The Steelers don’t want to do that twice in three years.
So Tomlin can watch the quarterbacks at the Senior Bowl all he wants. He should. It’s smart. It’s how he and Colbert have approached this time of year every season they have been together since January 2007.
If they fall in love with their version of Daniel Jones or find themselves in a situation akin to when the Packers came across Aaron Rodgers to replace Brett Favre, great. Move up and get him.
Short of that, though, what the Steelers are best served doing is exactly what they have been doing since Roethlisberger was pulled from that game against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 2.
Hope.
Hope their current quarterback is reminiscent of the guy he used to be. Or hope that his current backup becomes more of a reasonable facsimile of the guy they thought they were drafting.
Because as of now, Tomlin can look as long as he wants at the candy store in Mobile. But with as little cachet as the Steelers have on draft weekend and as many needs as they have on the roster, he’s best served window shopping at another position group.