Could the Pittsburgh Steelers finally start looking for their future quarterback in the 2021 NFL draft? That has been one of the biggest questions going into the offseason especially because Ben Roethlisberger is only signed for one more year. After the 2021 season, the Steelers will virtually have no one left at the quarterback position going into 2022. Ben Roethlisberger and Mason Rudolph's contracts will both expire after the 2021 season.
If Ben Roethlisberger does decide to ride off into the sunset Mason Rudolph will have the upper hand in negotiations with the Steelers if they would like to keep his services going forward. It has been very apparent the Steelers are not confident in Rudolph taking over the quarterback position just yet because they would have not brought Ben Roethlisberger back in 2021 if they were. So there are big questions going into the 2021 NFL draft.
One of the quarterbacks the Steelers have met with during the 2021 offseason has been Texas A&M's QB Kellen Mond. He said he has had some great talks with many scouts and higher-ups during his Pro Day. One of them was with the Pittsburgh Steelers according to Jim Nagy. So the Steelers have shown some strong interest in quarterback Kellen Mond. Will that be enough to draft him though?
CBS Sports feels the Steelers do have enough interest in quarterback Kellen Mond to draft him in the second round of the NFL draft. That would be a very interesting pick for the Steelers because they do need to look for their future quarterback, but would they use a second-round pick on Kellen Mond? It is very hard to say, but it would not be a smart move this season because the Steelers seem to be going all-in for another run at the Super Bowl.
They need to focus on fixing their offensive line and running game to help Ben Roethlisberger going into the 2021 season. There is no way Ben Roethlisberger can make it through an entire season throwing the football 50+ times each game any longer. He needs a running game going forward.
Kellen Mond would be a good fit for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He has shown upside to being a starter in the NFL and could be a surprise sleeper in the 2021 NFL draft. It would not be a bad pick if the Steelers did end up drafting Kellen Mond, but they have much bigger needs right now like their offensive line and running back positions.
Here are Pro Football Network's Best Fits for Kellen Mond:
"Kellen Mond is a lot like Jamie Newman, in a sense. Both are good athletes with live arms, and both have immense developmental potential. And both show inconsistency as passers, both with accuracy and with mental progressions. The only difference between them? Mond is a four-year starter, while Newman only has one full year under his belt."
"In a vacuum, Mond gets the edge for his starting experience. However, it’s worth wondering why his development was so stagnant, despite getting so much time to grow. Can Mond’s withstanding potential be reached, or is he maxed out as an explosive but inconsistent signal-caller who’ll never completely iron out his issues?"
"Whatever the case, Mond has some appeal as a backup or developmental starter in the middle rounds, and with his modest improvement in 2020, there’s a chance a team could take him on Day 2. Taking the dearth of QB talent after the top five into account, as well as Mond’s strong pro-day performance, in which he ran a 4.57 and made nice throws on the move, Mond could go higher than expected. Teams like Washington, the Colts, Steelers, and Bears stand out as potential fits."
"Mond is by no means a Day 1 starter, but in a situation that affords him time and support, he could eventually start to trend upwards."
"Mond’s stagnation as a prospect over the last two years gives onlookers pause. But the Texas A&M quarterback’s tape is dotted with high-quality throws layered between less inspiring moments. There’s enough upside there to warrant consideration as a future starter, and while Round 1 isn’t likely, he should have a chance to work into a role in the NFL."