The Steelers QB room in 2025

I like Howard. I wouldn't be mad if they drafted him, but I have to wonder how much of his success is that offense.

In that video, on every single throw, he's standing in a perfect pocket. A pocket created by the best OL in CF, throwing to Egbuka(1st rd wr) and Jeremiah Smith(1st overall pick?). Many of them were off of play action, with the defense fearing the best RB tandem in CF.

How's he gonna handle pressure on every play in the NFL, and not having wr's that are way better than everybody else?

 

I don't think he's as far off as you'd think. He isn't as good as Hurts, but the Eagles went with a system that maximized Hurts' talents and it still took him a couple years before he became who he is now.

It isn't really Fields' fault that Tomlin wanted to go with Wilson. Granted, he could have played like an MVP, but we were always going to be in the business of DEVELOPING Fields rather than getting a stud on day 1. I think it is pretty clear that his game had progressed some from his time in Chicago, and the calls for him to get more opportunity and "lose the leash" a bit were much louder than the ones that wanted him replaced with Wilson. The passing game improved for all of 3 games of the remaining 12 played, and by the end of the year Wilson was arguably a worse passer than Fields, all while bringing nothing to the table with his legs.

It is hard to say Fields is a worse passer when Russell spent the final weeks of the season struggling immensely, only seeing 200+ yards passing in games where the outcome was determined by halftime and racking up garbage time yards.

We do need to upgrade the RB position and WR2 position to get on Philly's level talent wise on offense, that is for sure. Pickens would definitely start on that team though. If he had competent QB play, he'd be a top 5 WR statistically. He has the unfortunate reality of being on a team with Russ at QB and legitimately nobody to play WR2. He does what he does against the defense literally game planning around not letting Pickens beat them, as he is the only high end talent we had in "weapon" roles. Could Fields get to Hurts' level with high end weapons? We don't know. He's never been on a team with high end talent at WR or RB.

Of course Fields is a "bridge" QB. But one that at least has some upside and ability to be a good QB in the league. I would still consider Dart and Howard at 21 regardless of signing Fields to an extension, but Fields is the preference over Wilson. We got the best football Wilson had left in him and it was bad. Its only downhill from there. With Fields there is at least potential for him to elevate his play. Either way, I hope we walk out of the draft with our "eggs in the basket" of a QB from this year's draft. The high end talent isn't there (there is no Arch Manning, Joe Burrow, Jayden Daniels, etc. in the draft), but this year's class is at least deep with quality QB prospects. I don't see why Dart, Howard, McCord, Milroe, and Ewers wouldn't be viewed as good or better than the "next tier down from the elite" guys of the past 5 years. 2019 - Daniel Jones, Dwayne Haskins, Drew Lock; 2020 - Jordan Love, Jalen Hurts (what a great year to need a QB); 2021 - Justin Fields, Mac Jones, Kyle Trask; 2022 - Desmond Ridder, Matt Corral, Malik Willis, Sam Howell; 2023 - Will Levis; 2024 - Penix, McCarthy, Nix.

 

I understand the feeling that he had the best weapons in CFP... He did. By a lot. Henderson and Judkins are both electric, Smith is an absolute alien, and Egbuka is a really good #2/slot WR. There is no doubt to that. So yeah, it is a fair worry with Howard that he just looked good because his team was really good. However, as someone who is a huge OSU fan, I can definitively say that the WORST part of that team was the OL. There were plenty of instances where the OL got handled (first Oregon game, Penn St., Michigan). Obviously some of that was due to injuries on the OL, but it wasn't an elite unit by any stretch. Sure, a lot of highlights come from clean pockets (what QB isn't better in a clean pocket than on the run), but he mostly handled pressure well on the season. The only really bad game he had was Michigan and I am 100% certain that he was concussed early in that game and was trotted out to finish.

Good analysis on the PA though. He uses PA (and really his eyes) better than any other QB prospect in this draft. I think the PA part is just built into Chip Kelly's offense, as his primary goal is to spread teams out, force them to have to defend the perimeter, then run it down your throat. Once you start overplaying the run, he will kill you in PA. I honestly think he would be really good in Arthur Smith's offense. We don't have to start him right away and we can build some talent around him the next year or two in FA and the draft. He throws an excellent deep ball, is accurate to the sidelines, throws with excellent touch, and can actually read a defense and go through progressions. He is just functional enough as an athlete at his size to be a threat in the QB power game (which is a great short yardage and red zone weapon to have). Sure, there are question marks, but the QB position is REALLY hard to predict.

Only being good when the talent around you is good, isn't necessarily the biggest knock in the world either. Guys like Jared Goff, Joe Flacco, and Brock Purdy aren't going to drive an offense by themselves... but put in a system with really good weapons, they can be really great QB's (and plenty good enough for deep playoff runs and SB wins). If that is who Howard ends up being, I think it is a win, and worth the 21st overall pick. Just my opinion. I am normally pretty hard on OSU QB's (even as a fan, I get it), but I like Howard more than most (I was super high on Stroud, but he's been the only one I felt really sure was going to be a good NFL QB). He has great swagger about him, has the potential to be a true locker room leader, and has a lot of tools you'd want to see from your QB prospect. I am starting to warm up to him as our first round pick this year.

 

Yea it’s called AR2 and MT press conferences.

 

I'm glad they made the switch because if Fields started for the whole season the Steelers would owe the Bears their 4th rd pick, instead of a 6th rd pick .

 

I agree with your assessment of Justin Fields and Russell Wilson. However, when comparing him to Hurts, Hurts has a way better offense around him and offensive scheme molded to fit his playing style. I think Arthur Smith had a scheme to fit Russell Wilson's playing style because they expected him to be the starting QB. With that said, Hurts has an elite RB Barkley to keep the LBs and DB's honest which opens up the passing game. On top of that he has two #1 WRs in AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith who can create separation or get open with share size. While we have Pickens, who is that contested catch type of WR, we need that complimentary #2 WR with speed/great route running to create separation and that can get open. The speed on our offense just seems slow, except for Austin. On top of that we need Arthur Smith to scheme the WRs open with crossing routes and such. If we do resign Fields, im hoping he learned something sitting behind Wilson this year and his passing game continues to progress. Khan/Tomlin need to get him a stud RB in the draft (I would like Jeanty) and a complimentary stud WR in FA and or draft. Slow prodding Najee Harris, who has poor vision and runs up his lineman's backs, wasn't scaring anyone.

 

So our QB room next year will be Justin Fields, Jalen Milroe and Skylar Thompson! That makes the trio of Kenny, Mitch and Mason look like Montana, Marino and Elway.

 

No Will Howard might actually be a good QB so naturally the choice will be Jalen Milroe who is a RB trying to disguise himself as a QB.

 

Hello, exactly. But you're asking the staff to put a round peg into a round hole. That's where you screwed up.

 

Sure

That’s what will put us in the Super Bowl next year

 

I'd tend to agree. But in a somewhat contradictory finding, heading into 2024 Fields' career passer rating was markedly better when under center vs. shotgun and in play action vs. non-play action. By comparison, Wilson also showed better, but to a lesser extent:

Career Passer Rating
Fields Under Center: 110 ... Shotgun: 76 (+34)
Fields in Play Action: 103 ... non-PA: 76 (+27)

Wilson Under Center: 109 ... Shotgun: 98 (+11)
Wilson in Play Action: 112 ... non-PA: 99 (+13)

These stats do show Fields to be slightly worse in play action than when under center as a whole (103 vs. 110), whereas Wilson has been better (112 vs. 109). Still, I didn't expect to see that kind of trend with Fields. There are some nuances that could explain some of it, but for a guy that displays a legitimate struggle with anticipating WR/DB routes at times I wouldn't expect those kind of discrepancies.

 

What are we doing in 2025? Going for another playoff run or sort of tanking? If its the latter, throw Fields out there in 25 and look toward the 26 draft. If were actually trying to win a playoff game or two ditch fields and wilson and try the FA pool (Darnold?)

 

Well, you still have to address DL, WR, and corner in the first three rounds, but if Christ declares for the draft you gotta take a flier on him to be your franchise QB.

No way he lasts to the fifth.

 

Throw Hail Mary's every play and be penalized for 12 men on the field?

NAILED IT!!!

 

The Steelers o-line coach would be demoted to coaching the freshmen.