Tomlin: Dwayne Haskins’ Death Hasn’t Altered Steelers’ Draft Plans

In the team’s pre-draft press conference, Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said that the team hasn’t approached the tragic death of Dwayne Haskins from a business standpoint when asked if the quarterback’s death will alter the team’s plans for the 2022 NFL Draft.

“In regards to Dwayne, our energies have been on paying proper respects and supporting his family,” said Tomlin. “We haven’t approached it from a business decision or business-decision making standpoint. We just fell that’s just the appropriate mindset we have, as we sit here today.”

Haskins was struck and killed in Florida when he was walking on I-595 while trying to get gas for his vehicle. He was in Flordia to train with his teammates at Mitch Trubisky’s Florida home. Trubisky and Haskins were both set to compete with Mason Rudolph for the Steelers starting quarterback position in the fall.

Haskins came to Pittsburgh after being the No. 15 overall pick of the Washington Redskins in 2019. He only lasted a year and a half with Washington after numerous off-the-field issues and poor play caused a falling out with the team. The Steelers signed him after the 2020 season and he spent the 2021 season as the team’s third-string quarterback behind Ben Roethlisberger and Rudolph.

His death leaves the Steelers with just two quarterbacks on their active roster entering the draft. General manager Kevin Colbert said earlier this offseason that the team intended to bring the usual four quarterbacks to training camp.