First Call: Will Ben Roethlisberger stay with Steelers through 2022? A potential landing spot for James Conner

It’s an all-NFL “First Call” for Thursday morning with lots of Pittsburgh Steelers tidbits.

At least one reporter thinks Ben Roethlisberger will be back with the Steelers after 2021 ends. A familiar foe from the AFC North is looking for work. And one outlet thinks it has found a landing spot for Steelers running back James Conner.

Also, one highly rated draft prospect at cornerback feels good about his chances with the Steelers. And another NFL free agent at that position finds a job before Steven Nelson.

Two more years! Two more years!

A popular topic on ESPN lately is the notion that the Steelers may draft Ben Roethlisberger’s replacement later this month. That would be counter to the previously held notion that the team is willing to give either Mason Rudolph or Dwayne Haskins a shot in 2022.

Or that the franchise will hold out until next year to find a new starting signal caller.

It appears long-time NFL reporter John Clayton is not in that camp with many from Bristol. He went on 93.7 The Fan Wednesday. Clayton is of the belief that “Big Ben” may not be done after this season at all.

.@JohnClaytonNFL on @937theFan on Steelers drafting a QB: "I think Ben Roethlisberger will play for 2 more years [2021 and 2022]."

— Andrew Fillipponi (@ThePoniExpress) April 7, 2021

“I know he’s on a one-year contract,” Clayton said. “But it’s not out of the question that he could sign another one-year contract. I still think he’s going to be there two years. But during that time, you want to maximize it out and you don’t want to be like Philadelphia (Jalen Hurts) or Green Bay (Jordan Love) where you take a quarterback and have him sit.”

I’m not sure how I feel about either of those points. I still think Roethlisberger is done after 2021. And I’m not opposed to having an apprentice sit behind the starter if the situation is clear-cut.

But Clayton advanced a different argument that I think is spot on.

“With five quarterbacks going in the first round and most of them going pretty high, there’s not one quarterback who you can say is going to be the next Ben Roethlisberger. Maybe (that player) can come in and be the next Mason Rudolph — plus being a better backup. But, no, this is a draft where you are just not going to find that guy. You have to wait until next year’s draft,” Clayton said.

I’ll cosign there. I’d rather have the Steelers wait a year to acquire a quarterback than force a pick in 2021. Wait until next year’s carousel starts turning and next year’s prospects populate the draft instead of forcing yourself to take Kellen Mond or Kyle Trask or Mac Jones just because you are planning ahead to 2022.

Elsewhere in “First Call” …

Nothing for Nelson: Another cornerback has a new gig, and it’s not former Steeler Steven Nelson.

Good “vibes” from Steelers?: Florida State cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. was on CBS Sports’ “All Things Covered” with former Steelers cornerback Bryant McFadden and current Vikings cornerback Patrick Peterson. And he said the Steelers, New York Jets and Cleveland Browns were the teams that gave him the best “vibe” during his Zoom meetings.

Go west young man?: One outlet thinks that the Arizona Cardinals might be a good landing spot for James Conner.

Bye-bye Bengal: Long-time Cincinnati Bengals running back Gio Bernard has been released. Does anyone see a potential Mewelde Moore signing here for the Steelers? I do.