This offseason, the Pittsburgh Steelers have been connected to every quarterback somehow. Whether that is through rumors or just suggestions of who they should sign, it exists. But one name that has not come up is Colts quarterback, and yes, 2023 Pro Bowler, Gardner Minshew.
Minshew stepped in for the Colts after Anthony Richardson was injured and had to miss the rest of the season due to a shoulder injury. And now, he is set to hit the open market. On Tuesday, CBS Sports named the Steelers as one of the best fits for Minshew along with the Colts, Las Vegas Raiders, and Minnesota Vikings.
“The former Jacksonville Jaguars fan favorite perfectly straddles the line between starter and backup, never quite settling in as an efficient, accurate game manager while also never losing the spirited poise that wins over teammates and produces some timely big plays. Five years in, it’s relatively clear he’s better suited as a Plan B under center, but after scrappy playoff-caliber stretches with both the Jags and Indianapolis Colts, you could do much worse,” they wrote.
If the Steelers are going to add someone to that room, Minshew is in the tier that they could look at since he would not be guaranteed a starting job and on top of that, has proven capable in the past. As Shane Steichen’s coaching showed, Minshew can lead a team down the stretch to a near playoff berth. And he does fall along that line.
It seems likely that Mason Rudolph will wish to test the free agency waters and see what his options are around the league when free agency opens. The Steelers likely will not want to wait for that process to play out to make their own decision at quarterback. And Minshew could be that decision.
The Steelers will also likely look to the 2024 NFL Draft to bolster their quarterback depth, though it is unlikely they’ll find an immediate starting option there this year, either.