INDIANAPOLIS — The retirement of legendary Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger creates a huge void and places the AFC North franchise in transition. Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert is retiring after the NFL Draft (internal executives Brandon Hunt and Omar Hunt are competing with a large group of candidates to replace him), but he emphasized confidence in Mason Rudolph and Dwayne Haskins while speaking at the 2022 NFL Combine. Pittsburgh is seeking a long-term answer at the position.
Kevin Colbert eyeing quarterbacks in 2022 NFL Draft
While the quarterback draft class isn’t regarded as extremely talented, Colbert expressed some belief in a group that includes Kenny Pickett, Malik Willis, Matt Corral, Sam Howell, and Desmond Ridder.
“I believe it’s a quality class,” Colbert said. “There might not be the number of players at that position there have been in the past, but there’s certainly good quality. There’s going to be starting NFL quarterbacks in this class.”
The Steelers have been linked to multiple options as far as addressing the quarterback position.
Colbert won’t be tied to one particular path, though.
“We won’t narrow it to any one place, never have, never will,” Colbert said. “Quarterback is obviously a huge position in any given season, especially this season with our Hall of Fame quarterback calling it a career. Is it different this year? Yes. Is it going to change how we approach things? No.
“We have two vets in Mason Rudolph and Dwayne Haskins who have both started NFL games and they’ve won games. We think we have two capable NFL quarterbacks. How we’ll add to that I can’t say.”
Colbert addresses Brian Flores, Najee Harris, JuJu Smith-Schuster
Beyond addressing the quarterback position, the Steelers have made headlines in other areas. That includes hiring former Miami Dolphins coach Brian Flores, who filed a class action lawsuit alleging racial discrimination against the league, the Dolphins, New York Giants, and Denver Broncos as a senior defensive assistant/linebackers coach.
“I said that would be awesome,” Colbert said. “Brian Flores has been a successful NFL head coach and defensive coordinator, and I was excited to have him. As I mentioned to coach Flores when he first came into the office, I really like his background because he started out on the personnel end. Some of the experience and beliefs that he has in personnel and also in coaching can only help us.”
Harris showing progress
The Steelers are encouraged by the progress of running Najee Harris, a first-round draft pick from the University of Alabama who was selected to the Pro Bowl as a rookie. He rushed for 1,200 yards and 7 touchdowns and caught 74 passes for 467 yards and 3 scores.
“I hope Najee can build off of what he did for us last year,” Colbert said. “It was a good start. It wasn’t the start he envisioned. I think he thinks there’s more. We think there’s more.”
JuJu Smith-Schuster to remain a Steeler?
Colbert sounded open-minded toward potentially retaining free agent wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, too.
“JuJu did a great comeback from the shoulder injury that he suffered,” Colbert said. “Much to our surprise, he was available to us late in the season as well as the playoff game. We commend him for doing that and putting his free agent thoughts aside and helping us win a playoff game. We take that into account. JuJu has been a great player for us.”
Steelers’ GM search is ongoing
The Steelers recently have completed interviews with Baltimore Ravens director of player personnel Joe Hortiz, San Francisco 49ers director of player personnel Ran Carthon, and Philadelphia Eagles vice president of player personnel Andy Weidl. All are highly regarded.
The Steelers have also interviewed Green Bay Packers co-director of player personnel John Wojciechowski, Indianapolis Colts director of college scouting Morocco Brown, Carolina Panthers assistant general manager Dan Morgan, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers vice president of player personnel John Spytek.
The Steelers have also discussed the GM job with Tennessee Titans vice president of player personnel Ryan Cowden, Colts assistant general manager Ed Dodds, Los Angeles Chargers director of player personnel JoJo Wooden, and ESPN analyst Louis Riddick.
“For the GM position, it’s been great,” Colbert said. “There’s a lot of qualified folks we have a lot of qualified folks within our own organization in Brandon Hunt and Omar Khan. What I’ve tried to do is give Art, Mr. Rooney qualified people that could be general managers. In the process, we’ve come out of it very impressed. It’s an outstanding group of young professionals who are trying to be general managers.”