Steelers 2021 Training Camp Battles: Which QB will round out the depth chart?

The Pittsburgh Steelers are still in the early stages of the 2021 offseason, but with the 2021 NFL Draft over the attention now turns to the regular season. There are steps along the way, mandatory minicamp, Organized Team Activities (OTAs) and training camp, but the position battles which will take shape throughout the offseason are worth discussion.

Sure, things could change between now and the start of training camp. Injuries, acquisitions and players emerging can alter the outcome of these battles, but there will be several key battles taking place. In this series, myself and Dave Schofield will be giving our analysis and prediction for each training camp battle which will unfold at some point this offseason.

Today we take a look at a position/battle for the Steelers’ offense. This battle, which involves two quarterbacks, hasn’t been discussed yet, and I am ashamed it took this long. This debate is which quarterback will lock down the QB3 on the depth chart? For this exercise, we are making a pretty safe assumption, and that being Ben Roethlisberger and Mason Rudolph solidify QB1 and QB2.

With that being said, this debate will be structured just around the depth chart. Which quarterback will be behind Roethlisberger and Rudolph? Dwayne Haskins or Joshua Dobbs?

Who wins the battle? Dave and I give our predictions below, but be sure to let us know what you think in the poll below, and be sure to explain your vote in the comment section!

Jeff Hartman

Analysis: There are some who might think this is a slam dunk prediction, but there are plenty who disagree. No matter what Haskins does, there are always those who suggest he can’t get the job done. Maybe it was his failed tenure with Washington, or how he came from Ohio State. Either way, it would take Haskins not just making the team, but winning games on a regular basis for some to change their tune with the former first round pick. On the other side are those who have always thought Dobbs was a wasted pick. His athleticism is evident, but his accuracy throwing the ball doesn’t always match his intelligence and athleticism. This battle still has a lot to decipher.

Prediction: I like Joshua Dobbs, but I think it would take an injury for him to make the roster. This is the same quarterback who the Steelers felt was expendable when he was traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Steelers took a flier on Dwayne Haskins, and you have to think they are tantalized by his overall potential. Say what you want about Haskins, but he was a first-round pick and is someone who could be considered a future starter. Most of Haskins’ issues came as much off the field as much as on the field. When the dust settles, I see Haskins sticking around, as the Steelers hope they found a genuine diamond in the rough when they signed him this offseason. It would be the end of the road for Dobbs, but he would be just an injury away from making an NFL roster.

Dave Schofield

Analysis: There are too many Steelers fans who think Dwayne Haskins could never amount to anything. There are also too many Steelers fans who think Dwayne Haskins is a slam dunk. In all honesty, the truth most likely lies somewhere in the middle. When it comes to earning the final spot (we assume) on the Steelers quarterback depth chart, I don’t know if Joshua Dobbs can do anything more than he’s already shown the Steelers. His job this preseason is to show that he is at least still the same player they know that he was in 2018 when he was the back up quarterback. As for Haskins, it’s going to be all about him showing that he is more than what the Steelers would get with Joshua Dobbs.

Prediction: This pick comes down to the known of Dobbs and the unknown of Haskins. While I would love to be optimistic and see Dwayne Haskins have a revival of his career in Pittsburgh, it was only a year ago we were doing the exact same thing with former first-round pick Paxton Lynch. I’ve learned my lesson. Until I see Haskins show on the field against competition that he is a better option than Dobbs, and I feel the rocket scientist will better serve the Steelers on the sidelines.

Other Training Camp Battle Breakdowns: