In his 15-year coaching career, Mike Tomlin will enter the offseason that Ben Rodrisberg missed for the first time. While the 39s have yet to be officially announced, Tomlin said he "continues to assume" that the veteran, who has been at quarterback in the past, will not play next year. Earlier this season, Big Ben also said that "all indications" were that week 17 victory over Cleveland Brown was the last home game of his career at Heinz Field.
On Sunday, after a disastrous defeat to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the playoffs, Big Ben did not use the term retirement, but said it was an honor to stay with the Steelers for 18 seasons and looked forward to starting the next chapter in his life. That means Tomlin's first priority in the offseason is to find another quarterback for the Steelers. "I'm even a little excited about this challenge," Tomlin said in Tuesday's season summary: "It's a challenge that makes me a little uneasy." But I've learned to face these challenges, to appreciate them, to explore in a future full of uncertainty, and it's also an inspiration for me. ”
There's no doubt that the Steelers will bring in new entrants to compete for a starter, and Tomlin said he doesn't care if those newcomers come from the free market, through trades, or in the draft. "All the options are on the table," Tomlin said, "I love working with general manager Kevin Colbert this time of year and we have to improve the quality of the team." At present, there are two plans, one is to fish in the free market, and the other is to pan for gold in the draft. We have to look at the draft rosters, we have to look at the free market, and then we have to compare the two options together. ”
Next year's team salary cap has more flexibility than previous seasons, and they can trade a star quarterback, such as Russell Wilson. You can also find a player with a lot of experience, such as Jamis Winston, so that you can use him too much and try to develop it.
In the upcoming draft, the highest pick in the Steelers' hand is 20. But because this year is not a quarterback year, people like Kenny Pickett or Sam Howell of North Carolina may be on the Steelers' watch list. Tomlin also said that to avoid the rebuilding process, he did not say whether to bring in a veteran or a rookie. When looking for a new quarterback, mobility will be an important consideration. "The mobility of the quarterback is not only helpful to me, but to everyone." Tomlin said: "This is a trend in the league today, and it is becoming more and more important. ”
Entering the 2022 season, the Steelers will have only one signing quarterback Kyle Rudolph. Considering that Dwayne Haskins was also on the Steelers squad last season, Tomlin said both had a chance to compete for jobs.
(Great White)