Dwayne Haskins Is Already Making the Pittsburgh Steelers ‘Anxious’ About His Future There
The Pittsburgh Steelers could be out with Ben Roethlisberger and in with Dwayne Haskins.
Roethlisberger, arguably the greatest quarterback in Steelers history, isn’t guaranteed to return for the 2021 season. That could push Haskins, the Washington Football Team’s former first-round selection, into a competition for the starting job.
The Steelers just sent Haskins a very public endorsement, one that should have him excited about what is to come.
The Steelers are ‘anxious’ to see Dwayne Haskins play
The Pittsburgh Steelers seem prepared to enter the Dwayne Haskins era.
In a recent interview with the team’s official website, Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert said the organization is “excited to see what Dwayne can do with us.” Pittsburgh signed Haskins, a first-round pick in 2019, to a futures contract in January.
“We had high grades on Dwayne coming out of Ohio State. He got picked a lot higher than we were able to make that decision and it didn’t work. He’s a young, talented quarterback that we’re anxious to see what he can do once he gets here and gets working with us.”
It is not yet known when Haskins would officially start practicing for the Steelers. The NFL has not announced how the 2021 offseason will work with regards to pre-training camp practices and team activities.
Ben Roethlisberger may not rejoin the Steelers
Ben Roethlisberger could quickly be approaching his final weeks in Pittsburgh — and not solely because of Dwayne Haskins.
Although Roethlisberger is coming off a strong season, his cap charge for next year is over $41 million. Roethlisberger, who turns 39 on March 2, has not shown a public desire to retire after 17 NFL seasons.
If the Steelers move on from Roethlisberger, he could quickly command offers on the free-agent market. In 15 starts last year, Roethlisberger completed 65.6% of his passes for 3,803 yards, 33 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions.
Outside of an injury that cost him most of the 2019 season, Roethlisberger has been the Steelers’ full-time starting quarterback since 2004. The six-time Pro Bowl selection has won two Super Bowl rings with the Steelers.
Haskins is looking to rebuild his career in Pittsburgh
Dwayne Haskins shouldn’t quite jump for joy if the Pittsburgh Steelers do move on from Ben Roethlisberger.
The Steelers are, in Kevin Colbert’s own words, “anxious” to see Haskins play. In 16 games and 13 starts across two seasons with Washington, Haskins completed 60.1% of his passes for 2,804 yards, 12 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions.
Haskins is clearly talented, and he was a consensus first-round prospect entering the 2019 draft. If Haskins can avoid the maturity problems that led to his early departure from Washington, he’ll have a strong chance at replacing Roethlisberger.
If the Steelers part ways with Roethlisberger, they’d likely add a quarterback in free agency — Ryan Fitzpatrick, perhaps? — or in the draft, if not both.
Pittsburgh also has Mason Rudolph under contract for the 2021 season.
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