Follow us:

By default, Ben Roethlisberger's retirement moves Mason Rudolph into the QB1 spot. For now. Pittsburgh's interest in Willis is no secret, and the Auburn-to-Liberty signal-caller has as much upside as any quarterback in this class. While he needs to show more consistency, the ball jumps off his hands and he's the most dangerous runner at the position.

If one of the tackles listed above were still on the board, we might have changed directions; that remains a big need. But so is QB, and outgoing GM Kevin Colbert had to be impressed with Howell's second-half performance at Heinz Field in the rain last season. With three QBs off the board, the Steelers might have to pounce this early.

Quarterback is obviously the biggest need here, but with four of them already off the board, the Steelers are better off addressing their needs along the offensive line first. Penning proved at the Senior Bowl that his level of competition won't be an issue, and his physical playing style will fit perfectly in Pittsburgh.

Kevin Colbert has been with the Steelers for 22 seasons -- and has been their GM since 2010 -- and saw them draft Ben Roethlisberger in 2004. Now that Roethlisberger is retired and Colbert is stepping down, I think he'll want to leave the organization in a good place for the future. It already has the defense and a run game, and it was even a playoff team this past season. But the AFC North has some excellent quarterbacks, and the Steelers need an answer under center to keep contending.

My top QB, Willis has the strongest arm in the class and can create outside the pocket, making tough off-platform throws look easy. He's still developing, and he threw 12 interceptions last season, but the Steelers can build the offense around this dynamic passer.

With Ben Roethlisberger retired and general manager Kevin Colbert expected to move on, the Steelers could be hardly recognizable in 2022. If the rebuild is, in fact, coming, don't be surprised if Pittsburgh goes all-in on it, especially should a quarterback with Willis' upside still be on the board.

Willis is the most gifted quarterback in this class, but he's also quite raw and will require plenty of patience.

Mike Tomlin wants a mobile quarterback to replace retired Ben Roethlisberger. Well, Howell ran for more than 1,000 yards last season, so ... He's also been a heckuva leader and passer for the Tar Heels, posting 92 TD throws and more than 10,000 yards in three years -- despite losing so many weapons for the 2021 campaign -- and could be a seamless fit in the Steel City despite his 6-1, 220-pound measurements.

The Senior Bowl rumor mill suggested the Steelers are interested in Willis, and it's easy to see why: His big arm and dual-threat skill set separate him from the rest of the class. Pittsburgh leapfrogs the Commanders to get their guy at this spot, giving up a second-rounder and change to secure their future franchise quarterback. Willis may need to sit for a year behind a veteran bridge quarterback, but this would be an ideal landing spot for the former Liberty star.

Fans will be upset that this isn't a quarterback, but with three off the board already there simply isn't a value available if the draft board falls this way. And that's a reality fans and front office members need to start preparing for. The next franchise quarterback for the Steelers might not come from the 2022 first round.

Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert is stepping down after the draft. I suspect he'll make his best effort to acquire the team's future starting QB before he departs. Trading up for Howell would cost the Steelers their 2023 first-round pick and one of their third-rounders this year. Howell's production was down in 2021, but he showed the same leadership, arm strength and gumption during the Senior Bowl that was on display over the past three years at North Carolina.

The big move of the draft. The Steelers made their interest in Willis no secret at the Senior Bowl. He is immediately a Tier 1 rushing threat at quarterback and has all the tools needed to develop at the position. The Liberty signal-caller racked up an insane 11.0% big-time throw rate this past season.