Undrafted free agent John Rhys Plumlee hoping to stick with Steelers at QB

John Rhys Plumlee is the longest of long shots to win a roster spot with the Pittsburgh Steelers this fall.

He is the fourth quarterback on a team that historically keeps three and doesn’t necessarily stash another on the practice squad.

He is the only one in a reconfigured position room who lacks NFL experience.

He is an undrafted free agent.

But, just like veterans Russell Wilson, Justin Fields and Kyle Allen, Plumlee is a newcomer to the Steelers, and all the former Ole Miss and Central Florida passer wants is a chance to prove himself.

No matter how small that chance might be.

“You maximize your opportunity, whatever that looks like,” Plumlee said this weekend at rookie minicamp. “If you get the last rep at practice, and you get only one, you make the most of it.”

Plumlee elected to sign with an organization that just two years ago didn’t give No. 4 quarterback Chris Oladokun a single rep in training camp until the final days at Saint Vincent and didn’t play him in the preseason, either.

Still, Plumlee spurned other interested teams after the draft and gladly agreed to a deal with the Steelers, who gave him a $35,000 signing bonus that is believed to be the highest the organization has awarded to an undrafted player.

“When you think about the Steelers, it’s the toughness, hard-nosed football, the winning mentality they have,” Plumlee said. “That is one of the things that drove me here. With their belief in me, that is one thing that was super appealing. You want to go somewhere you feel like you’re wanted, and I feel like I’m wanted. That’s why I’m here.”

Plumlee’s size was a reason he went undrafted. He measured 6-foot, 200 pounds at the NFL Combine, and some teams talked with Plumlee about changing positions to wide receiver, where he had some college experience.

“Pittsburgh believed in me as a quarterback,” he said, “and that’s why I’m here.”

Plumlee’s arrival to the organization comes five years after another undrafted free agent made an unexpected rise from rookie minicamp to starting six games at quarterback for the Steelers. Nobody is predicting Plumlee will become the next “Duck” Hodges, who was signed after a May tryout, but Plumlee also has a good story to tell.

Plumlee was a two-sport athlete in college, playing baseball for two seasons at Ole Miss before transferring to UCF. Plumlee not only started two seasons at quarterback for the Knights, but he also played 58 games in the outfield in 2023 and batted .286 with 10 home runs, 32 RBIs and 18 steals.

Plumlee opted not to play baseball this spring because of the lure of playing in the NFL.

“I’m able to put my focus on one single thing,” he said. “I’m excited to develop and keep getting better.”

After making eight starts at quarterback as a freshman, Plumlee spent time at wide receiver in his second and third year at Ole Miss. That led to his transfer to UCF, which offered a return to the quarterback position.

In his final two seasons, Plumlee completed 63% of his passes for 4,857 yards, 29 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. He also rushed for 1,367 and 16 touchdowns, displaying the kind of versatility the Steelers coveted when they brought aboard Wilson and Fields in the offseason.

“I think I bring something different to the quarterback position,” he said. “I think I bring a third dimension to an offense that not a lot of teams can account for — just like our quarterback room now. We have guys who look like me a little bit, super-athletic guys, guys who can extend plays. I think that is something that drew their interest.”

With no quarterbacks signed beyond the 2024 season, the Steelers could try to develop Plumlee for a future role. Any chance of earning a roster spot this year likely would hinge on unseating Allen for the No. 3 spot.

Plumlee said he is ready for whatever the Steelers have in store for him.

“I’ve been one of those guys that prepares for an opportunity whether or not you know it’s coming,” he said. “That’s the best thing you can do. I’ve done it all the way up. It got me here, so why would I stop now? Prepare for whatever opportunity might come. If you don’t see it, keep preparing. If you do see it, keep preparing.”

Note: The Steelers signed veteran cornerback Anthony Averett, who was attending rookie minicamp on a tryout basis. He has made 27 NFL starts but hasn’t played in the league since 2022 with Las Vegas.