Josh Dobbs might not be the future Steelers starting QB, but why label him so soon?

The Pittsburgh Steelers didn’t have to do what the Kansas City Chiefs or Houston Texans did in the 2017 NFL Draft by trading up to select a quarterback. They knew Ben Roethlisberger was returning for the 2017-2018 season, and the need at quarterback wasn’t as dire as many were predicting.

The early round draft picks of T.J. Watt, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Cameron Sutton and James Conner made it clear the Steelers could take a quarterback, but it wasn’t a priority.

Then came the team’s fourth round draft pick, and the Steelers selected quarterback Joshua Dobbs from Tennessee. Immediately after the selection, fans, and media pundits, started to criticize the selection.

“Would be lucky to be a third string quarterback.”

“I’m more accurate than Josh Dobbs.”

“What a waste of a pick.”

I could go on, but you know how Steelers fans can be when something doesn’t go the way they exactly imagined in their minds.

Dobbs will have a lot to prove, but his competition shouldn’t be relegated to Zach Mettenberger this offseason. Instead, let Dobbs just do his thing. After all, he possesses a skill set no other quarterback on the team’s roster can call their own — the ability to run.

In Dobbs’ Senior season at Tennessee, he threw for 2,946 yards and 27 touchdowns, while rushing for 831 yards and 12 touchdowns. This isn’t coming from a MAC school, but a SEC school.

For those who think Dobbs isn’t going to cut it in the NFL, you may be right, but at the same time I am not about to write off a quarterback with tangible skills without watching him play a snap in the NFL.

What I don’t understand is how fans don’t want this player to succeed? The vast majority of Pittsburgh fans are not terribly excited about Landry Jones, or anything he does. With that in mind, you would think the success of Dobbs would be a huge win for the organization if he is able to succeed and be the QB2 behind Ben Roethlisberger.

In all honesty, it is extremely rare to see a quarterback drafted out of the first round turn out to be a major success, but what I see in Dobbs I like. Yes, he may have mechanical issues which cause inaccuracies, but his size, speed, athleticism and ridiculous intelligence could equate to an extremely solid quarterback if the right pieces of the puzzle are put together.

It may be a long shot, but Dobbs reeks of success and hard work. Just the way the Pittsburgh Steelers like their players.

A word to the wise...let’s just wait and see how this plays out, but I’m rooting for the kid.