PITTSBURGH – Dwayne Haskins, a 2019 first-round pick, has agreed to a one-year deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers after meeting with the team on Thursday, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The quarterback was released by the Washington Football Team less than a month ago, a day after losing to the Carolina Panthers. He was photographed without a mask at his girlfriend’s birthday party after a loss to the Seattle Seahawks. He was fined $ 40,000 for his second violation of the COVID-19 protocols and lost his captaincy.
He still started against the Panthers, but played poorly and was on the bench. Haskins was then broken down in favor of a player, Taylor Heinicke, who had signed with Washington’s training group less than a month earlier. Haskins was then suddenly released the day after the loss to Carolina.
“I told him I believe it benefits both parties that we are going separately,” Washington coach Ron Rivera said in a statement at the time. “We want to thank Dwayne for his contributions over the past two seasons and wish him well.”
In a tweet, Haskins writes: “I take full responsibility for not meeting the standards of an NFL QB and will become a better man and player because of this experience.”
Haskins, who was drafted 15th overall by Washington in 2019 and is often criticized for his lack of work ethic, had a turbulent tenure with his first NFL team.
His choice was driven by owner Dan Snyder, contrary to the wishes of the franchise football team. The Ohio State coaches informed the coaches that it would take time to mature as a professional, and that the organization wanted the entire rookie season.
But injuries to other backs and a bad record led to Haskins starting seven games as a rookie. After a disastrous early performance, Haskins ended up with two good outings to close out his season. In those matches, he posted a combined QBR of 74.8 combined. But his total QBR for the season was 28 and this season it was 31.
Last season, Rivera said Haskins has talent for the franchise quarter, but he needs to become more of a leader. Rivera was pleased with what he saw in the off-season of Haskins. Haskins received all the first team representatives in the training camp and was named as the starter at the end of August, although Rivera said he would have opened it for a competition if there were pre-season games.
Haskins started the first four games, with four berths after three distinctions, but with a total QBR of 29.8. Several sources said they believed he was celebrating his first 300-yard game in the locker room after a 14-point loss to Baltimore.
Rivera sat him down for the following week; he was inactive for the next four games until starter Kyle Allen broke his ankle. Haskins relieved injured Alex Smith for the second half of a Dec. 13 win over San Francisco. Haskins started the next two games, but he did not play well. In his last start, the 20-13 loss to Carolina, he scored a total QBR of 4.1.
Haskins, 23, is represented by Brian Levy, who is also Mike Tomlin’s agent.
With his signing, the Steelers indicate that they are focusing on a future without quarterback Ben Roethlisberger – whether this year or shortly thereafter. The likely future Hall of Famer has one more year left on his contract, but he has not yet determined his future with the team. After the loss of game card, Roethlisberger said he would pray about the decision and consult his family. He added if he decides to come back, he hopes the Steelers also want him to come back.
While Josh Dobbs, the third quarterback, would hit the free agency in March, the Steelers will have Roethlisberger, Mason Rudolph and Haskins ranked for 2021, although Roethlisberger will have a capital cost of $ 41.2 million.
Information about ESPN’s John Keim was used in this report.