Washington football fans have been waiting for a young quarterback to lead the team into contention, but what about a future Hall of Famer?
According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, the Steelers are growing more uncertain of having enough weapons around quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to contend next season, and there is a chance the soon-to-be 39-year-old could become a free agent rather than return to Pittsburgh, where he has spent his entire 17-year career.
One of the teams Florio ponders as a potential landing spot for Big Ben should he become a free agent? The Washington Football Team.
“The only potentially viable options, now that the Colts are spoken for, would seem to be these,” Florio wrote. “Jets, Patriots, Texans (if they trade Deshaun Watson), Broncos, Raiders (if they trade Derek Carr, which seems highly unlikely), Cowboys (if they let Dak Prescott walk), Washington, Bears, Panthers, Saints, 49ers, and Seahawks (if they trade Russell Wilson, which seems highly unlikely). That’s the broadest universe of arguably realistic possibilities.”
Roethlisberger holds nearly every meaningful passing record in Steelers history, but still awaits word from the team regarding his future. He would be owed $19 million from Pittsburgh in 2021, which the team seems reluctant to dish out after Roethlisberger and the Steelers collapsed down the stretch of last season.
Washington recently signed Taylor Heinicke to a two-year deal, which likely would lock him in to a backup role unless he found a way to consistently replicate his performance in his final two games of the season, while Alex Smith is also under contract, though he has no guaranteed money left on his deal. With Dwayne Haskins being released, Washington could be looking for an upgrade at quarterback, which Roethlisberger could potentially provide in the short term.
“It would be weird,” Eric Bickel said on The Sports Junkies. “But I would be into it. As a fan, I would rather have Big Ben than [Ryan Fitzpatrick]. I’m all about it. I think he can still play. They can figure it out.”
Roethlisberger made 15 starts this past season, throwing for 3,803 yards with 33 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.