Pros and Cons of Steelers taking a QB first in 2022 NFL Draft

Pros of Steelers taking a QB with 20th overall pick

As it stands now it seems most likely that as far as the top-end quarterbacks go the Steelers will be looking at the following at the 20th overall pick;

Carson Strong, Nevada 6-foot-4 215lbs
2021 Stats: 4,186 yards, 36 touchdowns, eight interceptions, and a 156.6 rating

Malik Willis, Liberty 6-foot1 215lbs
2021 Stats: 2,857 yards, 27 touchdowns, 12 interceptions, a massive 51 sacks, and a, 151.1 rating. However, he had 878 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground.

Sam Howell, North Carolina 6-foot-1 225lbs
2021 Stats: 3,056 yards, 24 touchdowns, nine interceptions, 48 sacks, 154.2 rating. With, 828 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground.

All three of these quarterbacks are quite different. So, the Steelers could essentially have the gift of luck in not only picking the quarterback they like the most, but also the one who fist the system the best. Each one comes with their ups and downs, Willis’s lack of competition, Howell’s inconsistent and rough in big games, Strong lack of competition, and just the one big year.

As you can see two of the three can run the ball whereas strong is much more of a pocket passer, more similar to what they have been used to the last two decades.

There is also plenty of talent to unlock in all three quarterbacks. All three could step in on day one and start, not sure how well they would do vs some of the free agents that could be on the market. But, they won’t need that much time to sit, so they can keep the playoff train rolling. They will also come in on rookie deals, which is good looking forward instead of having to overpay some free-agent quarterback for a stop-gap year.

While I don’t think any of these will end up truly elite quarterbacks, they should all fair better than fellow division rival Baker Mayfield.