PITTSBURGH — Less than an hour into the NFL’s legal tampering period on Monday, the Pittsburgh SteelersThe new quarterback was agreed to terms.
Ex-workers are welcomed into the company. Buffalo Bills Chicago Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky on a two-year deal with undisclosed monetary terms isn’t a splashy signing by most standards — but it’s significant for the Steelers.
The Steelers are often quiet during the first wave free agency. They prefer to prioritise their players and wait for the dust settle before making any major moves. The Steelers also aren’t known for pursuing outside quarterbacks as potential starters. Since 2004, the years Ben RoethlisbergerThere have been 271 homegrown signal-callers who were drafted, compared to 18 for those from outside Pittsburgh.
But with Roethlisberger’s retirement, a relatively weak quarterback draft class and the free-agent and trade market drying up, the Steelers had to move fast.
Trubisky, a former No. Steelers stuck to their core values by acquiring Trubisky (a former No. They didn’t have to give up draft capital to sign him, and he’s relatively inexpensive, giving them the space to still go after other needs at offensive line, inside linebacker and cornerback, among other areas.
“I am beyond excited and blessed for the opportunity to be a part of the Pittsburgh Steelers organization,” Trubisky texted to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. ”I have tremendous respect for the Rooney family and Coach [Mike] Tomlin. They have built one of the best rosters in football, and I can’t wait to contribute and help this team continue their success.”
Trubisky is the next great Steelers quarterback. It's unlikely. But the next Ben Roethlisberger probably wasn’t walking through the door in 2022.
The asking price Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun WatsonThere are still several first-round draft picks, a large cap hit, and while Jimmy Garoppolo likely won’t cost quite that haul, he still figures to command more draft capital than the Steelers would historically feel comfortable parting with given the lengthy list of holes to fill.
Trubisky is the Steelers’ human safety net. He relieves the Steelers of the pressure to draft a quarterback from an below-average class in the first round and provides Steelers with meaningful competition at this position. Last month, general manager Kevin Colbert said Mason Rudolph would be the team’s starter if the season started the next day.
That’s not exactly the case now. They will likely be competing for the job of starting quarterback in training camp. Colbert also stated that he expects to have at least four quarterbacks on the roster in training camp. Dwayne HaskinsAlong with one other player, he is expected to be on the roster. This fourth option could include a second-round or third-round selection, or a relatively minor signing in free agency, such as Josh Dobbs returning to the team.
“Mason is 5-4-1 as an NFL starter, albeit in a backup kind of role, but we're excited to see what is next for Mason,” Colbert said in February. “Dwayne Haskins came in and did some nice things throughout the season as a scout team quarterback. Dwayne played in some preseason games, and we are excited to see what Dwayne has to offer us as either a competitor or as a starter. We don't know what the future holds.
“I think it'll be a great training camp for those two, and for whatever player we're able to add in that mix.”
While Rudolph has worked closely with offensive coordinator Matt Canada for two seasons, Trubisky’s skill set should mesh well with Canada’s scheme.
Trubisky, 28 years old, excelled when Trubisky was part of the Chicago offense that used pre-snap movement. His QBR was 22.5 points higher with motion than without it, according to ESPN Stats & Info. His completion percentage also increased from 65% to 69% percent. He threw 29 touchdowns to seven interceptions, compared to 35 touchdowns or 30 interceptions with motion.
Canada used pre-snap movement extensively as an offensive coordinator at college. However, only 36% Steelers players used it last season. Canada will likely use it more next season.
Trubisky often excelled at short, quick passes at or behind the line of scrimmage, another often-used staple in Canada’s offense.
Trubisky also has the mobility that the Steelers desired to prioritize this offseason. From 2017-20, Trubisky’s 833 rushing yards on scrambles were the fifth-most among all quarterbacks.
Trubisky's positive contributions to Pittsburgh are not without their flaws.
Trubisky recorded eight interceptions in Chicago's red zone, the most among the NFL's 2017-20 season. He also had the 29th-highest QBR of 50.8 over the same period, ranking 29th in the league. Trubisky also had the second highest off-target percentage of 19.4% during that period.
But Trubisky has experience working with Buffalo’s staff and learning behind Josh AllenYou can play for one season. His development could be further enhanced by a change of scenery and working with Mike Sullivan, Canada's respected quarterbacks coach, to help him.
Signing Trubisky doesn’t make the Steelers a Super Bowl contender, but it doesn’t take them out of the race, either. If the team executes the free agency process and the draft to compliment players like Najee Harris, T.J. Watt Minkah FitzpatrickA Steelers season can be successful even without a top quarterback. Although it will require additional offensive, inside, and defensive linebackers, the Steelers can still have a successful season with a strong running game and a championship defense to support a pass attack.
Trubiksy isn’t a home run signing by the Steelers, but it’s one that gets them on base in a competitive AFC North while maintaining as much flexibility as possible to address other positions of need while they continue the search for the Roethlisberger heir apparent.
