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As the Pittsburgh Steelers are currently on the lookout for Ben Roethlisberger’s successor at the quarterback position, former safety Ryan Clark believes that Buffalo Bills passer Mitchell Trubisky could be a viable option for the team this month.
In speaking to One Bills Live at the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine, Clark was asked whether Trubisky could be a possibility for the Steelers as their next starting quarterback. Without much hesitation, the former Steelers safety noted that the fifth-year passer could be one.
“I do,” Clark said. “I think Mitchell is a legit consideration because he can be a bridge quarterback or maybe your franchise quarterback.”
The Steelers have been linked with a multitude of quarterbacks over the past few months. Whether in the upcoming free agency period or the 2022 NFL Draft, Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert will have a variety of options open for Roethlisberger’s replacement.
Trubisky is the latest passer to be linked with the Steelers, as ESPN notes that the AFC North powerhouse is among the early teams interested in the soon-to-be unrestricted free agent. The former Chicago Bears quarterback could be in line for an average annual value (AAV) deal worth more than $10 million.
Overall, Clark views that with the uncertainty surrounding the quarterbacks who will be available in the upcoming draft coupled with the question marks revolving around the passers who will be out of a contract in the free agency period, Trubisky may be an option for quarterback-needy teams.
“When you’re looking at the quarterback market, there’s like guys like Teddy Bridgewater, Jameis Winston and I just don’t believe that teams are going to value them in a way where a guy like Mitchell Trubisky isn’t in play,” Clark said. “Then you also look at the draft, this is one of the few drafts where we’re like we don’t have that guy.
“People don’t know if Kenny Pickett can walk into your building day one and be the starter. People don’t know if Malik Willis can do the same, and so I think that’s going to make free agency extremely interesting.”
After a four-year stint with the Bears, Trubisky agreed to take on a backup quarterback role with the Bills this past season. He did not earn a single start in the campaign, as he wound up recording a mere eight pass attempts from six games played.
Clark sees that as Trubisky was able to learn from both Josh Allen and now-former Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, this should up his stock in free agency.
“People are going to get excited to get Mitchell Trubisky because it’s not about what the reviews or the perception of him in Chicago is,” Clark said. “It’s going to be about the skill set, it’s going to be about the level of talent and also it’s going to be, okay you learned of Josh Allen or you were there under Brian Daboll and we’ve seen what they can do with quarterbacks.
“We’ve seen how they can teach you to not only be a pocket passer but also use some of your athleticism in the sense of making plays.”
The Steelers are set to have plenty of options for their next starting quarterback, and it sure will be noteworthy to see on just which route they opt to take, especially as the roster is still built to be a serious playoff contender in the AFC.