![\"Pittsburgh](\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/GettyImages-84579440.jpg?quality=65&strip=all&w=780\")
<\/p>\nThe\u00a0Pittsburgh Steelers\u00a0are just one of the many teams around the\u00a0NFL\u00a0who entered the 2024 offseason needing to figure out their quarterback situation.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The first round of the upcoming draft is expected to be loaded with picks at the position, but it still won\u2019t be enough to address all of the needs around the league at QB.<\/p>\n
One team that might not find their solution at QB through the draft is the\u00a0Atlanta Falcons.<\/p>\n
They own the draft\u2019s eighth pick, which puts them out of range of the top few prospects, but could also be too early to grab the next best option.<\/p>\n
Faced with that situation, the team could be looking for a veteran either through free agency or a trade. If they get one, it seems that could mean they\u2019ll move on from the last QB they drafted.<\/p>\n
According to\u00a0NFL.com\u2019s\u00a0Tom Pelissero, Ian Rapoport, and Mike Garafolo, the Falcons could trade\u00a0Desmond Ridder\u00a0once they land their next QB.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnce they acquire a new QB, potentially trading Ridder would be an option, as well. It might be a situation where a fresh start works for all parties.\u201d<\/p>\n
Steelers Now\u2019s Nick Farabaugh believes that could make Ridder a trade target for the Steelers to back up Kenny Pickett<\/p>\n
Farabaugh said, \u201cSmith will be bringing in a new scheme and playbook. Getting Pickett up to speed in the new offense will be the new coaching staff\u2019s first and most important job. There isn\u2019t going to be a lot of time for them to be spreading his efforts around.<\/p>\n
So it makes a lot of sense if the second quarterback is someone that is already familiar with Smith\u2019s offensive scheme and playbook.\u201d<\/p>\n
With Matt Ryan in decline, the Falcons entered the 2022 offseason knowing they needed to address their future at quarterback.<\/p>\n
They did so by trading Ryan to the\u00a0Colts\u00a0for a third-round pick, signing\u00a0Marcus Mariota, and then spending a different third rounder to draft Ridder.<\/p>\n
The team spent most of that season with Mariota as their starter, but benched him with four weeks left in the year.<\/p>\n
Ridder went 2-2 as the starter, earning himself a shot at the starting job for the 2023 season. He beat out\u00a0Taylor Heinicke\u00a0for the job, but struggled in his second year.<\/p>\n
Ridder was benched at one point during a season where he had a 1:1 touchdown to interception ratio and lost seven fumbles.<\/p>\n
Still, his familiarity with Smith\u2019s offense could make him a solid backup option that won\u2019t cost the Steelers much.<\/p>\n
Ridder is just the latest addition to the list of options for the Steelers.<\/p>\n
Fellow former Smith QB\u2019s\u00a0Ryan Tannehill\u00a0and Mariota both could be options in Pittsburgh.<\/p>\n
Gardner Minshew\u00a0will be a free agent after leading the Colts this past season.\u00a0Jameis Winston\u2019s\u00a0time with the\u00a0Saints\u00a0could come to an end with his deal expiring.<\/p>\n
Sam Darnold\u00a0should get interest on the backup market after the way he finished his 2022 season.<\/p>\n
Jacoby Brissett\u00a0has been a dependable backup option for years.<\/p>\n
Even\u00a0Mac Jones\u2019\u00a0name has come up as an option for the Steelers.<\/p>\n
On top of all of those options, the Steelers can still go after upgrades like\u00a0Kirk Cousins\u00a0and\u00a0Russell Wilson.<\/p>\n
The NFL.com article on QB situations around the league also reported that\u00a0Mason Rudolph\u00a0wants a fresh start elsewhere, which would mean one of these options will probably end up in Pittsburgh.<\/p>\n
The Steelers just need to figure out which of the many choices is the right fit.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The\u00a0Pittsburgh Steelers\u00a0are just one of the many teams around the\u00a0NFL\u00a0who entered the 2024 offseason needing to figure out their quarterback situation. The first round of the upcoming… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_lock_modified_date":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-82939","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-nfl"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nbatruc.playsetmusic.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/82939"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nbatruc.playsetmusic.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nbatruc.playsetmusic.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nbatruc.playsetmusic.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nbatruc.playsetmusic.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=82939"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/nbatruc.playsetmusic.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/82939\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nbatruc.playsetmusic.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=82939"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nbatruc.playsetmusic.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=82939"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nbatruc.playsetmusic.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=82939"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}