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Former Player Urges Steelers to Sign Surprise QB

A former Pittsburgh Steelers receiver has a stunning suggestion for the team to add at quarterback.

Stephen Thompson

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PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers are looking to build a quarterback room around Kenny Pickett this offseason and a surprising name has been floated as an option by a former player. 

Former Steelers wide receiver Plaxico Burress, during an appearance of Up On Game on Fox Sports Radio, said they should sign former third overall pick and 2024 unrestricted free agent Sam Darnold to stock a quarterbacks room in flux. 

"You know what makes the most sense for me?" Burress said. "When I say this to people, they kind of look at me and they like 'Well, he's not the most desirable of guys,' but he fits. It's Sam Darnold. I think he fits what Pittsburgh wants to do right now. Listen, he's not young Ben Roethlisberger. He's not a bad quarterback."

Burress added that he think, no matter what quarterback comes in, they'll be supported by a strong running game led by new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. 

To say Darnold's not young Ben Roethlisberger is an understatement. Over six seasons with the Jets, Panthers and 49ers, Daronold owns 21-35 record as a starter. He's completed 59.7% of his passes for 12,064 yards, 63 touchdowns and 56 interceptions. Darnold hasn't made more than 10 starts in a season since 2021. 

Steelers brass has been clear since the start of the offseason - they need improved quarterback play to take the next step. They want Pickett to prove he's capable of taking a jump this season and want free agent Mason Rudolph back to compete for the starting job after closing the 2023 season with a 3-1 record as a starter over the Steelers' final four games. 

Would Darnold be an upgrade over those two? History says no but Burress believes he can help the Steelers in 2024. 

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Stephen Thompson
STEPHEN THOMPSON

Stephen Thompson graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications and political science from Pitt in April 2022 after spending four years as a sports writer and editor at The Pitt News, the University of Pittsburgh's independent, student-run newspaper. He primarily worked the Pitt men's basketball beat, and filled in on coverage of football, volleyball, softball, gymnastics and lacrosse, in addition to other sports as needed. His work at The Pitt News has won awards from the Pennsylvania News Media Association and Associated College Press. During the spring and summer of 2021, Stephen interned for Pittsburgh Sports Now, covering baseball in western Pennsylvania. Hailing from Washington D.C., family ties have cultivated a love of Boston's professional teams and Pitt athletics, and a fascination with sports in general. 

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