The Pittsburgh Steelers are set to embark on their quarterback journey this offseason, and while it seems like they don’t plan to go very far from last season with interest in re-signing Mason Rudolph, there are still other veterans in that similar tier that they could sign if Rudolph walks. The often-discussed name is Ryan Tannehill.
But Peter King had another name that he causally floated out there in his latest column. King wondered if the Steelers could be the team that ends up looking at Jimmy Garoppolo to be the insurance for their situation at quarterback.
“I think Jimmy Garoppolo’s two-game PED suspension throws a wrench into his quarterbacking future, obviously. And while no one’s going to feel sorry for a guy who, per overthecap.com, has made $148.8 million in a nice but over-valued career, what team will take a shot on him as a starter when he’s on the street this off-season—knowing he’s out for the first two games? Pittsburgh, maybe,” King theorized.
Garoppolo, as King notes, is suspended for the first two games of the 2024 season. He is alleged to have used a prescription medication without obtaining a therapeutic use exemption from the NFL, causing the two-game ban, which will be served in 2024, as long as he is on an NFL roster.
The 32-year-old Garoppolo began the 2023 season as the Raiders’ starting quarterback after signing a three-year, $67.5 million contract to reunited him with coach Josh McDaniels, who had been his offensive coordinator with the New England Patriots.
He lost his starting job with the Raiders after McDaniels was fired, with interim head coach Antonio Pierce choosing to lean on fourth-round rookie Aidan O’Connell. Garoppolo finished the season with 1,205 passing yards, seven touchdowns, nine interceptions and a career-low 77.7 passer rating.
Garoppolo is owed an $11.25 million roster bonus on March 17 that is guaranteed. His release will incur a $17.1 million dead cap hit for the Raiders, but clear $11.3 million in 2024 salary obligations. His suspension may allow the Raiders to avoid paying his guarantees.
Garoppolo will need to catch on with a team in order to serve his two-game suspension. After a down year and with a significant injury history, it is unlikely that he will get a job with much hopes of starting, though he could be among the list of quarterbacks the Steelers could look at to push Kenny Pickett this summer.
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