It was intriguing to think about the Steelers acquiring Sam Darnold. But that was before we knew his price. On Monday, the Panthers surrendered three draft picks, including a second-rounder, to bring aboard the failed first-round selection.
The Steelers were wise to stay away.
Darnold could’ve been a nice low-risk acquisition for Pittsburgh. Despite being horrendous last season — 11 interceptions in 12 games — he was playing on the second worst team in the NFL. Making matters worse, Adam Gase was in charge of his development.
In other words, Darnold was put in a bad spot. Unsurprisingly, he failed.
With Ben Roethlisberger likely entering his final season, the Steelers need to think about the future at quarterback. But Darnold can’t be counted on. He’s in the same camp as Dwayne Haskins, and the latter was available on the waive wire for the nothing. That’s the definition of a low-risk acquisition. Darnold would’ve required at least one second-round pick. That’s a gross overpayment.
Let’s be honest: there’s no way any team would spend a second-round selection on Darnold this year. That’s why the Steelers are much better off using their draft capital and taking an unknown commodity. Armed with the No. 55 overall pick, they could draft Kellen Mond, who’s lit it up at Texas A&M over the last three seasons.
On top of that, the Steelers have so many holes on their roster: offensive line, running back, positions all over the defense. They can’t afford to just throw three picks towards a potential lost cause.
It’s apparent the Steelers are content with putting off their quarterback search for another year. For the second straight offseason, some were linking them to Jameis Winston, but without an opportunity to start, it’s easy to see why that deal didn’t come to fruition. As bad as Roethlisberger was last December, he’s still a better bet for 2021 than Winston, don’t you think?
Ultimately, the Steelers are going with what’s familiar. There’s a good chance Darnold will start for the Panthers next season, in which case, the exorbitant price makes a little more sense. The situation would’ve been different in Pittsburgh. We don’t know if Darnold is better than Mason Rudolph, never mind Roethlisberger.
When Roethlisberger walks away, the Steelers will likely take a step back — unless they hit on a quarterback in the second-round or later this year. But there are always veteran quarterbacks available on short-term deals. The decline doesn’t have to be dramatic, especially with this top-notch receiving corps.
It’s natural to want clarity, but Darnold is just another flier. Thank goodness the Steelers didn’t overpay. They’re not that desperate, at least not yet.