Former Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger 'pretty content' with retirement

Quarterback Tom Brady retiring and then returning to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers all in the same winter somewhat overshadowed the fact that fellow future Hall of Fame signal-caller Ben Roethlisberger walked away from the Pittsburgh Steelers and rode off into the sunset of retirement in January. 

Unlike Brady, who was a regular-season Most Valuable Player candidate for the 2021 campaign and who unquestionably still has plenty left in the tank, Roethlisberger dealt with poor play and physical setbacks throughout what most expected would be his final season. Per Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk, Roethlisberger admitted during an appearance on Pittsburgh's WDVE on Thursday he's "pretty content" with his decision to walk away from the NFL.

In certain mock drafts and rumors, Pittsburgh has been linked with to-be rookie quarterbacks Malik Willis of the Liberty Flames and Kenny Pickett of the Pittsburgh Panthers. 

"Are either one of them going to be there? I just don’t know," Roethlisberger said of the pair being available when Pittsburgh is called upon to use the 20th overall pick on Thursday night. "If they are, I think that they would [pick them]. I don’t know. I don’t know. I know they got some linemen in free agency. Do they feel confident that those are the guys? There’s, I think, a chance that if you could get a really good center out there, you could go get him and move Kendrick [Green] to guard and sure up that line with Dan [Moore Jr.] and Kendrick and a rookie, another guy. You could have a good line for a long time and then find whatever quarterback you really want, whether it’s this year, later, or next year. 

"I don’t know. I think you’ve just got to shore up certain spots first. But if that guy’s there and they love him, I’m sure they’ll take him."

Last month, the Steelers signed former Chicago Bears starter and Buffalo Bills backup Mitchell Trubisky, presumably to have him compete with career QB2 Mason Rudolph this summer. However, it's also thought Pittsburgh is among clubs waiting to see if the Cleveland Browns will cut Baker Mayfield if they can't find a trade partner regarding his services before the draft ends this weekend.