Colbert: Steelers Could Still Draft Quarterback after Signing Mitch Trubisky

The Pittsburgh Steelers are still seriously considering drafting a quarterback in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, even after signing free agent Mitch Trubisky, general manager Kevin Colbert said on Sunday.

Colbert, speaking with reporters via conference call, reiterated what he said before free agency: that signing a player at a position does not mean that the Steelers will not continue to pursue players at that position in the NFL Draft.

“Anything we did in free agency doesn’t preclude us from taking another player at any of those spots we added players,” Colbert said, via Mark Kaboly of The Athletic.

While it’s easy to write off things said by executives a month out from the draft as potential smokescreens, Colbert and Mike Tomlin’s dance card for pro days has sured looked like a group that’s targeting a quarterback.

In the last week, the Steelers top brass were at Pitt to see Kenny Pickett, Liberty for Malik Willis, and eschewed traditional stops Ohio State and Penn State to see Cincinnati’s Desmond Ridder and Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral, which prompted Colbert’s remote participation in the NFL owner’s meetings in Florida.

“We’ve been at top quarterback pro days for the first time in a long time because we may be in a position where we have (a need),” Colbert said, via Gerry Dulac of the Post-Gazette. “When we’ve had the luxury of a Hall of Fame quarterback at our disposal, we may not have attended those types of pro days.

“Does that mean we’re taking one? Possibly. We just want to make sure we’re covered with that class.”

Colbert also said that the Steelers targeted Trubisky instead of looking at a quarterback available via trade such as Jimmy Garappolo, Matt Ryan, Deshaun Watson or Carson Wentz, was that acquiring Trubisky still kept the team’s draft pick pool intact, which will allow them to stay involved with drafting a quarterback in the first round if they choose to.