How Cleveland May Have Steered Steelers Towards Aaron Rodgers In 2005 NFL Draft

The Pittsburgh Steelers landed QB Ben Roethlisberger within the 2004 NFL Draft — and the muse that introduced two Lombardi Trophies again to the town. However issues might have performed out very in another way had the Cleveland Browns drafted their hometown prospect. It might have put the Steelers on a collision course with Aaron Rodgers within the 2005 NFL Draft the next yr.

“We actually thought [Eli] Manning would go to the Giants. We thought the Browns would take Ben,” former Steelers personnel exec Doug Whaley stated Wednesday by way of 93.7 The Fan’s Morning Present. “We didn’t assume San Diego was gonna take a quarterback as a result of that they had Drew Brees. So we have been taking a look at Philip Rivers. So we have been like, ‘Philip Rivers, that’s it, we obtained him.’ And we have been actually proud of that.

“Then when the Browns took [Kellen] Winslow, all of us have been like, wait a minute. Critically, I bear in mind trying across the room saying, ‘The place are the cameras? Is that this a kind of jokes?’ We couldn’t imagine Ben fell to us.”

Pittsburgh had Roethlisberger rated increased than Rivers however thought for certain the Browns would find yourself taking the Ohio native. The board instantly broke in an surprising manner with the Chargers drafting Manning. At that time, many thought the Giants would take both Roethlisberger or Rivers. And the Browns have been an apparent touchdown spot for Roethlisberger at No. 6 total.

Not solely did the course of NFL historical past almost change with Roethlisberger touchdown elsewhere, however the Steelers might have missed out on your entire QB class of future Corridor of Famers.

All three of Manning, Rivers and Roethlisberger ended up with Corridor of Fame credentials to their identify, however the Steelers obtained the most effective of the bunch with the third quarterback off the board. He would go on to cause them to a pair of Tremendous Bowl championships and a 3rd look within the huge recreation.

They weren’t going to draft the subsequent quarterback accessible if all three have been gone. Their focus would have shifted elsewhere in accordance with Whaley.

“There would’ve been a debate between, I believe it was Tommie Harris and Shawn Andrews,” he stated.

Harris, a defensive deal with, had an okay profession with three Professional Bowl picks, however nowhere close to the affect of anyone like Roethlisberger. OG Shawn Andrews had two Professional Bowls and one All-Professional choice, however private struggles and continual again accidents pressured him out of the league prematurely.

The 2004 draft class would’ve been one of many worst of Kevin Colbert’s GM tenure as an alternative of being top-of-the-line.

Had they missed out on Roethlisberger or Rivers in 2004, Whaley thinks Rodgers very nicely might have ended up in Pittsburgh by way of the 2005 NFL Draft.

“We wouldn’t have needed to [trade up]. We might’ve simply sat there,” he stated. “We had him increased than that. We have been stunned he was slipping.”

Rodgers fell to No. 24 total, and the Steelers most likely would have been proper in that vary with a season below Tommy Maddox.

That most likely would have value them the 2005 Tremendous Bowl with Maddox main the crew as an alternative of Roethlisberger. And who is aware of if Rodgers would have had the identical profession with a special set of circumstances in Pittsburgh. However it’s fascinating to assume that one colossal mistake by the Browns might have been the distinction between Roethlisberger or Rodgers in Pittsburgh for the final 20 years.

As a substitute, Rodgers is now with the Steelers for doubtless the ultimate season of his Corridor of Fame profession with hopes of constructing one final push towards a championship. Maybe their paths have been at all times meant to cross.