Pittsburgh Steelers: Is Alabama Quarterback Ty Simpson The Future?

As the reigning division champion, the Steelers will be looking to stay ahead of their AFC North foes. Mike Tomlin is no longer the head coach after resigning this offseason, and former Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy will be taking over the job Tomlin held for nearly 20 years. The biggest potential issue for Pittsburgh to solve before the start of next season is its quarterback position. Last year’s starter, four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers, is still deciding on whether to return for another season or retire. Should Rodgers return, he will reclaim the starting position for next season under McCarthy, who coached the future Hall of Famer during their time in Green Bay.

Beyond the upcoming season, the position is much less certain, especially if Rodgers decides to retire. Rodgers is 42 and has been the subject of retirement rumors for several years, suggesting that even if he returns, Pittsburgh cannot rely on him as its future. Beyond Rodgers, the Steelers have long-time backup Mason Rudolph, who has started a handful of games across his career, and Will Howard, whom they selected in the sixth round of last year’s draft. The former Ohio State Buckeye has yet to appear in a regular-season game for Pittsburgh, but reports suggest members of the front office are high on the former national champion.

Should the Steelers decide to bring in competition for Howard, or a long-term option to learn behind Rodgers next year, Alabama’s Ty Simpson would be among the best options. Considered by most to be the second-best quarterback in the class, and by a select few, the best, Simpson could give the Steelers a viable plan for the future if they draft him with the 21st pick.

Simpson is highly regarded for his intelligence, with his processing and decision-making being his most enticing attributes. The former Crimson Tide signal-caller isn’t particularly big, nor does he have notable arm strength, but he is a capable athlete who can make plays with his legs if necessary. Simpson isn’t the kind of prospect a team should force to start right away, given his limited experience starting in college. For a team like the Steelers, which could let him sit for a year, potentially learning behind one of the greatest quarterbacks in history, he could represent the future at the game’s most important position.

If the Steelers believe Simpson has the potential to be a franchise-level quarterback, they should not hesitate to draft him. Reports suggest teams such as the Arizona Cardinals are interested in trading back into the first round to draft Simpson. Given the scouting report on Simpson and the current needs on the Steelers roster, however, Pittsburgh should prioritize taking the best player available at 21, even if that means missing out on Simpson. The current reports on Rodgers suggest he will be returning, and if the team wishes to draft a developmental quarterback, there will be no shortage of options later in the draft, such as Miami’s Carson Beck or LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier.