Yes, Mr. Bouchette, the Steelers should draft a QB -- and dump Landry Jones

… talked to a number at Combine 

The Steelers sat down with a number of potential quarterbacks at the NFL Combine last week, though they did not talk with any of the potential top picks in the 2017 draft like Deshaun Watson of Clemson, Mitchell Tribisky of North Carolina, or Patrick Mahomes of Texas Tech.

According to Jacob Klinger, who covers the Steelers for the Patriot-News of Harrisburg, these are the ones they talked with as of last Friday.

Miami QB Brad Kaaya: He tweeted that Kaaya "talked with Mike Tomlin two nights ago, Kaaya said. Tomlin brought him in to talk w/Todd Haley, too. Formal scheduled."

He also lists Cooper Rush of Central Michigan, DeShone Kizer of Notre Dame, Greg Ward of Houston, C.J. Beathard of Iowa, and and Josh Dobbs of Tennessee as others with whom they have had discussions.

None of these are first-round draft picks, and the Steelers need to draft an outside rusher first and then perhaps a corner. However, they also have a compensatory pick, and even if they would decide to spend a second-rounder on a QB, that would be one well-spent.

After all, they have been fortunate that Ben Roethlisberger has not missed long periods of time with injuries -- like missing a season. He is 35, has never been in great physical shape -- though his arm is -- and a season-ending injury with Landry Jones as the backup would be a disaster.

Well, it would be for some of us.

The Post-Gazette's Ed Bouchette, who just loves -- loves -- Landry -- does not think that they need to even think about another QB. "Now [Jones] will become an unrestricted free agent March 9. The Steelers have expressed an interest to keep him and unless he believes he can go elsewhere and compete for a starting job, why leave? He has as good a position as any backup and could hold that job for years if he wants."

He could keep it for years if he wants? Why do you think that they are going after a potential young QBs, Ed? They have Zach Mettenberger behind Jones, so why look at good QBs?

Quite simply, they are looking at unloading Landry. Signing him to another gig, even for a year, would be a waste of time and money. He will never be a quality QB, and Zack M. has been a starter in the league.

Bouchette even goes further. "If Jones would leave as a free agent …" Does he really think that any team in the league would be willing to sign Jones to a free-agent contract? Maybe if the Steelers cut him, then other teams would look at him.

But, for free-agent money? You're living in la-la land, Ed.

The Steelers should look at a good backup in the third round. There may still be some left then -- like Tom Brady was in the sixth, a throw-away pick for the Pats.

In fact, while Steeler fans may never forgive Neil O'Donnell for his poor performance in the 1996 season Super Bowl, he was a third-rounder who had a great season and led them there for the first time in 17 years.

O'Donnell was not great, but he was good, much better than Kordell or Bubby and far better than Landry.

We definitely could use a good backup even if a third rounder.