Ben Roethlisberger , the ex-longtime quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers , wants his former team to make sure Aaron Rodgers — or whoever succeeds him if he opts not to return for another season — remains upright.
Mike McCarthy's team lost veteran guard Isaac Seumalo in free agency, watching him relocate to join the Arizona Cardinals on a three-year, $31.5 million deal. The Steelers will need someone to stick beside budding center Zach Frazier more than they'll need anything else in the 2026 NFL Draft, Roethlisberger thinks.
"Losing Isaac, an interior lineman, I think was a big deal," Roethlisberger said Tuesday on his "Footbahlin" podcast. "What I think it says to me now in the draft is — getting Pittman — I think takes receiver off the board at No. 1. You don't need to do that. I would not mess with a quarterback. Even if Aaron says he's not coming back, I would not mess with quarterback. I would stay away from that. I would stay away from running back.
"I would do what I originally said and get a lineman. … Always, always, always bolster your line. I would get the best interior lineman — or lineman period. Because maybe there's a tackle out there that you've gotta fill a spot if the rumors are true that Broderick's injury may be a little more severe than initially thought."
Former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger attending Day 1 of OTAs on May 21, 2024 — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
Broderick Jones , a 2023 first-round draft pick who moved over from right to left tackle, only played 11 games last season. He was yanked down awkwardly by then-Chicago Bears defensive end Dominique Robinson , then missed the remainder of the season with a neck issue.
Jones had to undergo spinal fusion surgery, which typically requires 3-6 months of recovery for daily activity.
The Steelers, meanwhile, have been repeatedly linked to Penn State guard Olaivavega Ioane in mock drafts.
"Prototypical guard for physical run schemes with thick limbs, a broad frame and plus core strength," NFL draft analyst Lance Zierlein wrote about Ioane in a scouting report. "Ioane plays with excellent contact balance and technique on both base blocks and double teams. He uses his hips and hands for leverage and displacement when drive blocking."
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now : Ben Roethlisberger Plays GM for Steelers First-Round Draft Choice
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