Steelers General Manager Kevin Colbert is elaborating on their decision to give Dwayne Haskins a shot in Pittsburgh.
Speaking on Dan Sileo's "National Football Show", Colbert says that Haskins “is a young, talented quarterback.”
Haskins was taken the same year that the Steelers drafted up to get Devin Bush. The Steelers took Bush at 10 and Haskins went to the Washington Football Team at number 15. So, if Colbert is so high on Haskins, why didn’t they consider drafting him?
“He loved him coming out of Ohio State,” said Colbert. “We always felt that he probably wasn’t ready for the NFL level, you know players make decisions for whatever reason, that’s their decision and he got put into a situation that didn’t work out for him. He’s a good kid, he’s a talented player, he wanted to be here and he wanted another opportunity.”
Haskins will likely be the third quarterback on the depth chart when the season starts but Colbert says the competition for Ben Roethlisberger’s backup will be open.
“Dwayne does strengthen the competition at that position, who the heck know how it will sort out as those three go into Training Camp behind Ben,” said Colbert.
The Fan Morning Show’s Colin Dunlap believes that after Roethlisberger hangs up his cleats, Haskins will get the opportunity to be the next starting QB for the Steelers.
Chris Mack doesn’t think it will be easy for Haskins to get the next opportunity.
“I think the way they have their quarterbacks positioned now, I think a lot of things would have to fall in Dwayne Haskins’ favor for that to work out that way,” said Mack.