The Pittsburgh Steelers are getting a good look at one of the statistically most impressive quarterbacks in the draft class whose name isn't amongst the trio projected to be well off the board before Pittsburgh has a pick. University of Houston signal-caller Clayton Tune has a visit or workout scheduled with the team in the near future sources told NFL media.
Photo Credit: Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle
University of Houston quarterback Clayton Tune could be a nice late-round pick-up for the Steelers.
Photo Credit: Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation.com (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers Kenny Pickett enters 2023 as the guy after beating out Mitch Trubisky in 2022.
Pittsburgh already has quarterbacks number one, Kenny Pickett, and two, Mitch Trubisky, on the depth chart set for next season, but as of right now, if one of them gets hurt, who dresses as the backup? Could it be the recently brought back tight end Zach Gentry who served as the emergency quarterback in 2022? It's only April. There's lots of time before the Steelers will even start back at the facility officially for offseason workouts. Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin didn't have a ton to say about the third quarterback spot, but maybe it's a position they address in the later rounds of the draft.
Tune progressed into a very serviceable starter in his five-year career at Houston. He got into five games in his freshman year in 2018 and by his fifth year, he threw 40 touchdowns, which tied for third-most in college football according to Pro Football Reference, to 10 interceptions on his way to leading the American Conference in passing yards, touchdowns, completions, and total touchdowns responsible for. He was a captain for the Cougars for three seasons, which makes him an attractive candidate for a backup role.
Steelers 3rd Quarterback Selection
Photo Credit: Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Quarterback Mason Rudolph will be leaving the Steelers via free agency after four years with the team.
The Steelers and last year's third-stringer Mason Rudolph have gone their separate ways, so finding the right fit for another body for the quarterback room has to be on the minds of the Steelers even if it's not a top priority. The free agency market for quarterbacks has pretty much dried up, and in theory, the team has its veteran backup to Pickett signed so, maybe it makes the most sense to find a player at the position who has some upside down the road and in a perfect situation probably spends all of year one as the third quarterback learning from the other guys.
If he has to play, Tune has shown resiliency in college to fight back from slow starts that NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein highlighted as one of his biggest strengths.
"Resilient in the face of adversity, Tune has proven that he can come back from slow starts and finish seasons strong. He’s more of a snap-taker than a playmaker. He’s a full-field reader who needs plays to stay on time, as he lacks improvisational talent," he said about Tune. "Without a plus physical or athletic profile to lean on, Tune must learn to speed up his eyes, quiet his feet, and improve his post-snap process to beat NFL defenses with timing and accuracy."
It doesn't sound perfect and there's certainly a reason he would be more of a project, but if he can find a way to have performances like the one to lead the Cougars' comeback win over the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns in the 2022 Independence Bowl, the sky is the limit. Tune threw three touchdowns and no interceptions adding 55 yards on the ground to help Houston claw back from a 16-6 halftime deficit to win 23-16 on a passing score with 20 seconds to go.
Who would be your pick for the third quarterback? Do you like Tune as a potential option? Comment below!
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