The arrival of future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers has given the Pittsburgh Steelers hope that they can build on what they did last season when they went 10-7 and made the NFL playoffs for the fourth time in five years.
But Rodgers is 41 years of age, and his retirement is inevitable. He’s no more than a stopgap solution to the quarterback woes the Steelers have had ever since Ben Roethlisberger retired following the 2021 season.
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson is rumored to be on the trading block after Daniel Jones was named the team’s QB1. While he didn’t exactly do well during his first two seasons in the NFL, many still believe he has untapped potential.
Sanjesh Singh of NBC4 Los Angeles feels the Steelers would be an excellent fit for Richardson.
“The teams that make the most sense for Richardson are either ones that have veteran quarterbacks who don’t move the needle for a playoff push or ones that don’t have a cornerstone locked down,” Singh wrote. “The Steelers are led by Aaron Rodgers, who will be 42 years old in December. His backup is Mason Rudolph. Pittsburgh usually gets into the back end of the playoffs under Mike Tomlin, but a future QB1 is necessary.”
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Richardson showed some intriguing potential as a dual-threat quarterback while at the University of Florida. His stock rose considerably during the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine, and he was the No. 4 overall pick by the Colts.
But his first two seasons in the league have been very rocky for multiple reasons.
He has thrown for a total of 2,391 yards and 11 touchdowns while also recording 13 interceptions. Due to multiple injuries, he has played in just 15 of a possible 34 games.
Some feel that if the 23-year-old goes to another team that has the right players around him and the right coaching staff, he could blossom into someone worthy of being a long-term starter.
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The Steelers organization knows that it can take many years to find a new franchise quarterback. After all, after Terry Bradshaw retired in 1984, it didn’t get its hands on another one until it drafted Roethlisberger in 2004.
If head coach Mike Tomlin and his staff see enough in Richardson, perhaps he could be next in line to lead the storied franchise back to Super Bowl glory.
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