Breaking News :”Scandal Alert”: Steelers’ Connection to a Controversial $137 Million Star QB Exposed

It is difficult to locate a quarterback that the Pittsburgh Steelers haven’t been linked to during the free agent market. On February 19, Pro Football Talk’s Peter King identified Jimmy Garoppolo as a possible suitor for the position of signal caller. Garoppolo will miss the first two games of the regular season due to a PED suspension, so the Steelers will need to decide which team will take a chance on him as a starter during the offseason.

Garoppolo missed the first half of the 2023 season due to a back injury and concussion. However, after Week 8, the Raiders benched Garoppolo because of his subpar play when healthy.

On February 16, ESPN’s Adam Schefter revealed that Garoppolo has been suspended by the NFL for using performance-enhancing drugs in violation of the league’s policy. Garoppolo utilised “a prescribed medication without having a valid therapeutic use exemption from the league,” according to Schefter’s article.

The Raiders are anticipated to cut Garoppolo this offseason, according to Schefter.

Steelers Connected to Raiders QB Jimmy Garoppolo

Despite injury worries, Garoppolo was a huge free agent signing for the Raiders just a year ago. A Lisfranc foot ailment forced him to the injured reserve at the end of the 2022 campaign.

Owing to that injury, the Raiders inserted a waiver that stated he wouldn’t be paid unless he cleared a physical examination into his three-year, $72 million contract.
After passing his physical, Garoppolo started six of the team’s first eight games. However, he struggled, averaging a career-low 7.1 yards per attempt and finishing with nine interceptions compared to seven touchdowns. Because of his suspension, the Raiders may not be able to pay Garoppolo the $11.25 million roster bonus if he is released before the fifth day of the upcoming NFL season.

Garoppolo might become a cheap commodity in free agency as a result of the suspension. However, by signing Garoppolo, the Steelers would be signing a quarterback who would not be available for the season’s opening two weeks.
Or, following his ban, they may sign him. That is, of course, throughout the season.
The Steelers have no interest in signing a quarterback to start in 2024, according to a story published on February 17 by Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. In an ideal scenario, Mason Rudolph will be re-signed by the team to face Kenny Pickett.

There are many choices available to the Steelers besides Garoppolo in case they are unable to re-sign Rudolph.

Peter King Rips Steelers ‘Not Interested’ in Signing Starting QB

When King proposed that the Steelers contract Garoppolo with an expiration date of 2024, he was well aware of Dulac’s allegation. King then blasted the Steelers for their purported strategy behind centre.

“Are you coming again?” King responded to Dulac’s report in a letter. “Should Mason Rudolph join with Pittsburgh in free agency, would the Steelers really choose to go into camp with him and Kenny Pickett in a division that already has Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson, and Deshaun Watson)? That seems like a grave error in judgement on your quarterback position.

Regarding Justin Fields, Kirk Cousins, or Russell Wilson, other NFL experts will probably feel the same way if the Steelers don’t make a major splash.

The Seattle Seahawks faced harsh criticism two years ago for starting the season with quarterbacks Geno Smith and Drew Lock. However, Smith calmed the sceptics and guided the team to the playoffs. Similar to Smith, Rudolph seemed destined for a career as a backup before December 2023, but perhaps he can establish himself as a reliable starter, as Smith has the last two seasons. Of course, the Steelers must sign Rudolph first. It wouldn’t be shocking if Pickett demonstrated notable improvement under a better play caller during his third season.