There are plenty of NFL teams that might fancy Brendan Sorsby in this year’s supplemental draft. Teams with barren quarterback rooms, a lack of youth, or a need for a backup could all show interest. But for Sorsby’s long-term interests, one analyst believes the Steelers might be the best fit for him.
“The right spot is somewhere he goes, he’s not pressed into high-pressure situations on the field at all this season, barring something unforeseen. You work on the person, he gets to know the NFL. And then when Aaron Rodgers leaves, he becomes the Steelers’ quarterback,” Marc Sessler said recently on his Heed The Call podcast.
Although some thought Sorsby’s gambling scandal, which includes a massive amount of bets placed and some on his own team, would make the Steelers look the other way. Although that still could be the case, it doesn’t seem to be just yet. The Steelers are doing their due diligence on Sorsby up to this point.
Which they should be doing, along with every other NFL team. Until the end of July there’s simply not much going on in terms of day-to-day business aside from negotiating contract extensions. And it’s rare to have a chance at a quarterback this talented for what might be as low as a Day 3 pick. Especially for a team like the Steelers, who haven’t picked in the top half of the first round in forever.
However, making Brendan Sorsby work is easier said than done for many reasons. First, the Steelers have to trust that his gambling issues won’t surface again. The quarterback needs to be the leader of the locker room. If players don’t feel their quarterback is completely bought in, it will cause problems. That’s a precarious situation for Sorsby, who has bet on his own team before. Pittsburgh would need to be absolutely sure about his maturity.
Then, there’s the other two young quarterbacks in the building. Will Howard, who got the bulk of the QB2 reps during spring practices, might be forced out of the group if the Steelers took Sorsby. It would also complicate things for Drew Allar, whom Mike McCarthy handpicked in the third round. Finally, it would essentially force Mason Rudolph off the roster.
For a lot of reasons, that’s not the best route to take. Pittsburgh already has plenty of youth in its quarterback room, and doesn’t need to take a stab on Brendan Sorsby. Even if the Steelers were in the position to do so, his off-field issues make it a risk. While they might be one of the better destinations for Sorsby, he isn’t one of the better options for the Steelers.
