The Chicago Bears have traded Mitchell Trubisky to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a 1st and 3rd round pick. The move will save both teams money on their QB contracts, but the real benefit is that it creates an opportunity for each team to rebuild without disrupting their respective lineups too much.
The “mitchell trubisky trade” is a perfect deal for all parties. The Pittsburgh Steelers get the quarterback they need to win and Mitchell Trubisky gets a chance to show his worth with a new team.
During the NFL’s legal tampering period, the Pittsburgh Steelers wasted no time. Following Ben Roethlisberger’s retirement after a stellar career, the Steelers struck to a contract with Mitchell Trubisky that basically guarantees him the starting job in 2022.
Over the last several months, the Steelers have been linked to Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson, Deshaun Watson, and Jimmy Garoppolo. However, Garoppolo was the only viable choice. They chose to take a chance on Trubisky, a former Chicago Bears starting quarterback who fell out of favor and spent a year as Josh Allen’s backup with the Buffalo Bills.
The Trubisky signing may not seem to be a home run on paper, but it is the ideal situation for both Trubisky and the Steelers.
By signing Mitchell Trubisky in free agency, the Steelers made the correct decision.
The Steelers have been one of the most QB-needy teams in the NFL over the last several months. The quarterback troubles of the Denver Broncos, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Green Bay Packers were all rectified. Carson Wentz was acquired by the Washington Commanders, while Garoppolo’s shoulder surgery has stopped clubs from acquiring him, at least for the time being.
So the free-agent alternatives weren’t very appealing: Marcus Mariota, Jameis Winston, and Trubisky were perhaps the best three possibilities.
As a result, the Steelers opted to give Trubisky a tryout. Coming out of North Carolina, the former No. 2 overall selection showed a lot of potential, but his time with the Bears was a disaster. Much of this, though, can be attributed to Matt Nagy and his never-ending circus of a tenure as Bears head coach.
The flexibility of the Trubisky contract for Pittsburgh is its finest feature.
According to a source, new Steelers quarterback Mitchell Trubisky is expected to receive a two-year contract for $14 million. Pittsburgh gets a terrific deal, and Trubisky gets a decent chance.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) March 15, 2022
Trubisky’s contract is just for two years and is for $14 million, however it could be worth up to $27.5 million if he meets all of his incentives. So, if the Steelers aren’t sold on Trubisky, this gives them some options moving into the 2022 NFL Draft and, who knows, a possible Garoppolo deal.
Nonetheless, it’s a smart decision by the Steelers, who had said that they were confident in Mason Rudolph as the starting quarterback in 2022. That is, without a doubt, old history, and Rudolph’s days with the organization seem to be dwindling.
Mitchell Trubisky has another chance to prove he belongs as a starting quarterback in the NFL.
This Trubisky analysis by Dan Orlovsky was a slam dunk. Yes, he struggled late in the season with the Bears and was released. The Bills then took a chance and put him behind Allen for the whole season.
That must have helped a little. After all, Allen is one of the top quarterbacks in the game and has consistently praised Trubisky. After spending a year with Trubisky, Bills head coach Sean McDermott gushed about him.
When the #Bills signed Mitch Trubisky they assumed it would only be temporary on the way to becoming a starter again and that thought remains true.
“I don’t believe it’s reasonable to assume we’ll be able to get him back.”
“He’s a marry your daughter type of guy.” pic.twitter.com/w1aW5SXgTa
— Heather Prusak (@haprusak) March 2, 2022
Those remarks mean a lot coming from a previous boss, and now Trubisky has a chance to prove his value once again.
With an average Big Ben, the Steelers reached the playoffs in 2021. Najee Harris, Diontae Johnson, Chase Claypool, and Pat Freiermuth make up their offensive core. T.J. Watt and Minkah Fitzpatrick head the defense.
On both sides of the ball, the components are in place, and if Trubisky can be as good as Big Ben in 2021, the Steelers could have a chance to make the playoffs.
Who knows, maybe Trubisky reverts to his 2018 form, when he set career highs in passing yards (3,223) and touchdowns (four) (24).
The Steelers are free to pick anybody they want and ease them into the lineup.
Mitchell Trubisky and Mike Tomlin, head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers | Robin Alam/ Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Steelers’ strategy is brilliant.
Mike Tomlin just cares about one thing: winning games, and he isn’t ready to take a year off to work on the 2023 season. Not in the least.
As a result, they sign Trubisky and hope for the best. They may now confidently choose a quarterback in the 2022 NFL Draft, whether it’s Pittsburgh’s Kenny Pickett or prodigy Malik Willis. If the Steelers want, they may wait until later and choose a player like Carson Strong, Desmond Ridder, or Bailey Zappe. They have a lot of choices.
They may pick a rookie who can sit and wait, learn the ropes, and not be pressed into play in his first season unless there is an injury.
The signing of Trubisky isn’t anywhere close to a blockbuster deal for Rodgers, Watson, or Wilson. The Steelers, on the other hand, maintain their roster, control their draft selections, and have greater financial freedom to plan for the future.
All Trubisky has to do is play half-decently and demonstrate the youngster how to understand the game in the NFL. It’s the ideal situation in every way.
Pro Football Reference provided the statistics.
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