You're not wrong that teams theoretically don't need to tank in order to draft a promising talent, the hurdle the Steelers are currently facing is the assets they plan on using to trade up in next year's draft to hopefully draft one of the top talents of the class, are currently inferior to the assets available to at least the Browns and Rams, who will also be looking at next year's QB class. So at this moment, trading up isn't looking to be the one size fits all solution some believe it to be.
Where I would disagree is the level of talent needed to likely compete in the future, and where that talent is likely to be taken going forward.
A lot has already changed regarding how the league views the QB position and the inherent talent and thus perceived ceiling that needs to be present to likely succeed as franchise quality players since the majority of last year's semi-finalists you mentioned were drafted. I think it's pretty obvious going forward that:
- The next Lamar level talent with his legs and arm is not dropping to the the last pick of the first round anymore.
- The next Allen like frame and arm, regardless of accuracy concerns, will be a top 5 pick if not top 3 based on measurables alone, the potential ceiling will be worth it.
- The next Mahomes the same.
- Daniels is already an example of the new breed of talent that teams are looking for.
You're right when it comes to Hurts, who needed development after being drafted, but that was within the Eagles organization, something proven to be not so easily replicated. Is anyone confident Tomlin would've been as succesfful developing Hurts into what he's become? Because that's what it would take if going that route.
Talents with high ceiling potential no longer drop past the top of drafts like they used to. In order to compete with the regulars atop the standings nowadays, you need top tier QB play. At least when considering the AFC, with the likes of Mahomes dominating the AFC championship games like Brady did before him, and the likes of Lamar, Allen, and Burrow not going anywhere anytime soon.
This is why Sanders falling in the draft shouldn't have been a surprise. While he likely doesn't fall as far as he did if not for the circus around him, I still doubt he'dve gone in the first in a normal circumstance, and certainly not top 5 like projected. He has no singular outstanding physical talent, he's accurate for the college game, that's about it. He isn't tall, he isn't fast, doesn't have a cannon arm, etc. In ortherwords, he has a high floor and low ceiling toolset wise, and that's not the type of talent that's going to be beating Mahomes, Lamar, Allen, etc. in the playoffs anytime soon.
If I'm proven wrong, and the Steelers develop their next franchise QB outside the top 5-7 picks, so be it, I'll be glad. But the trend I'm seeing makes me severely doubt it, and thus if they're to find their next franchise QB, I'm confident it'll need to be in the top range of picks in said draft, and they aren't likely to get there at the moment by simply trading up from their usual draft position.
