Steelers Projected to Gamble on ‘Deep Shot Savant’ QB
Before the win, Christian D’Andrea predicted that Mike Tomlin and Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Michael Penix Jr. would take a risk. Drafted by Washington in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin mentioned during the postseason press conference that Kenny Pickett will compete for a starting spot with the team in 2024. Christian D’Andrea of USA Today’s For the Win claimed that the competition will be Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr.
In a recent NFL mock draft, D’Andrea predicted the Steelers would select Penix in the first round.
“A Heisman winner’s resume raises many red flags, including the fact that he received significant support from a respectable beneficiary organization,” D’Andrea wrote. “At his core, he remains the dynamic passer who created magic in his Husky career. Washington went 25-3 with him, and while quarterback wins don’t mean much, he threw for more than 9,500 yards in that span. “Penix could be the depth player that Pittsburgh was hoping Kenny Pickett would be. With 20+ players on the roster, he’s a bit of a threat for a team in need of a franchise QB.
D’Andrea’s mock draft came out just before the playoffs started. At the time, the Steelers had the 23rd overall pick. As a result of the playoffs, Pittsburgh was ranked 20th in the first round. Ironically, the Steelers used the 20th pick to select Pickett two years ago.
The Steelers are expected to sign Michael Penix Jr.
This isn’t the first time the Steelers have been linked to a signal caller from Washington. CBS Sports’ Ryan Wilson predicts the Steelers will not only select Penix, but move up from the 16th to the 10th pick to secure him.
Wilson likes Penix with the Steelers. That’s because D’Andrea was the team’s favorite landing spot for deep balls, a Heisman Trophy finalist. “The Steelers offense looks like it’s from the 1850s, maybe even the 1950s,” Wilson said during a CBS Sports Network broadcast. “And what did you get from Michael Penix Jr.? A guy who can throw the deep ball.
Wondering what Deontay Johnson and George Pickens like? Let your roots run deep. Penix finished his senior season at Washington with 4,903 yards, 36 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 15 games. He also had a completion percentage of 65.4% and averaged 8.8 yards per attempt. However, Penix missed the national championship game against Michigan. He completed just 27 of 52 attempts for 255 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions in a 34-13 loss. That, along with his other warning signs, keeps D’Andrea from being considered a top-10 pick like Wilson was in December. But D’Andrea still liked his first-round matchup with the Steelers.
QB rumors abound in Pittsburgh.
Tomlin added on Jan. 18 that the team believes it has a starting quarterback on its roster since 2024. That probably won’t stop the rumors behind the Pittsburgh center. ESPN’s Marcus Spears claimed on January 17 that the Steelers would become instant Super Bowl contenders if they signed Kirk Cousins.
Several NFL experts, including ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, have linked the Steelers to Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson. Quarterback trade rumors are also circulating. Keyshawn Johnson of FOX Sports was one of the NFL experts calling for the Steelers to acquire Justin Fields from the Chicago Bears. It’s only January. The NFL media will continue to project the Steelers as a landing spot for free agents and rookie signal-callers in the coming months.
