Rumors recently surfaced that the Steelers had an interest in targeting former Giants starting quarterback Daniel Jones in free agency this offseason. Cited as an excellent fit for the Arthur Smith offense, Jones could materialize as a sleeper option for this team that can’t seem to find any stability in this room.
The instant reactions to this news has not been positive.
Like most fans, I was feeling the same way about the news when it broke. Jones has been the poster child of the dangers of paying a mediocre quarterback. He struggled for most of his tenure in New York, but the Giants stuck with him and even gave him a massive extension. That deal cratered the team, and they released Jones in the middle of last season.
There seem to be two routes that he takes this offseason, and only one of them will land him in Pittsburgh. The first is, to me, the most likely. He goes to a team with an established veteran and sits as their backup on the cheap for a year.
He wouldn’t likely see a lot of snaps, but he could regain some goodwill and strum up some interest in him next off-season. Mitch Trubisky did just this a few years ago, barely playing in Buffalo but rebuilding his value enough to land a starting gig in Pittsburgh the following season.
The Pittsburgh Steelers could be a fit for free agent quarterback Daniel Jones
The alternative, if he is dead set on having a shot at playing time, is to go to a team without a quarterback/a room in flux and try to earn a starting gig there. This is exactly where the Steelers are right now.
Assuming that Justin Fields returns as the starting quarterback, the team will want a capable guy to push him from behind. You aren’t getting that in the draft this year, and Jones has some traits to work with.
Ideally, Fields runs away with the job, but if he doesn’t you can try out Jones as an emergency option. More than likely, this won’t yield a great result, but if you are benching your starter to begin with, your team isn’t likely to be in a great spot overall.
I’ll be honest, despite my disdain for Jones, I think there is validity to the idea that he would excel in Smith’s offense. He has some Ryan Tannehill vibes to his playstyle, and that worked out well for a few seasons in Tennessee.
The real issue comes down to cost. Over the Cap projects Jones to be valued between $13-$14 million this year, and you aren’t bringing him in at that price to be your backup in Pittsburgh.
I have a hard time seeing him get that kind of money though. Gardner Minshew got $12.5 million to be the presumed starter for the Raiders last year, and Sam Darnold only got $10 million last year to be the veteran transition option.
While he won’t be playing for the minimum, I doubt he is making over $10 million a season. If he does, he will be priced out of Pittsburgh and most teams with an established veteran option. If he can be had at a lower price, he is squarely on the table, and I like his fit as a backup quarterback with the Steelers.
