Steelers HC Mike Tomlin wants QB that embraces competition

The Pittsburgh Steelers are on the cusp of beginning a new era following the retirement of future Hall of Famer Ben Roethlisberger. The team added former Chicago Bears starter and Buffalo Bills backup Mitchell Trubisky to the roster via a two-year contract last month. 

It's presumed Trubisky will compete with Mason Rudolph for the starting job later this summer, but Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk noted that the Steelers "worked hard at evaluating all the best quarterbacks in the 2022 NFL Draft" ahead of the start of the player-selection process on Thursday night. Per Myles Simmons of PFT, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin was asked during a press conference what he feels is the most important trait a quarterback must possess to consistently win at the highest level. 

"I think that is the ultimate competitor’s position," Tomlin explained about his mindset. "So those that run to and not from competition, those that embrace competition and the intensity of it, and the anxiety maybe associated with it — I think they have a leg up. Obviously, there’s some pedigree-related things per the position: arm strength, accuracy, and so forth. But that’s evident — it’s either present or it’s not. The intangible quality associated with competition, I think, is something that’s valuable."

In mock drafts updated this weekend, multiple CBS Sports analysts linked the Steelers with to-be rookie signal-callers. It's unclear which quarterback Pittsburgh may fancy grabbing with pick No. 20 on Thursday or if the Steelers would trade up for a future QB1.