Former NFL GM Thinks Jalen Hurts, Jordan Love Could Have Better Career Than Ben Roethlisberger

Former NFL GM Mike Tannenbaum sparked debate on ESPN's First Take by claiming he wouldn't select Ben Roethlisberger's career over current quarterbacks Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert, Jalen Hurts, and Jordan Love in a hypothetical draft. Despite Roethlisberger's two Super Bowl rings and first-ballot Hall of Fame credentials, Tannenbaum asserted that the 2004 draft class was "top heavy" and stated, "I'm not sure I'm taking Ben over any of those guys." He notably preferred Eli Manning from Roethlisberger's own draft class, contrary to consensus rankings.

Tannenbaum faced pushback from analyst Peter Schrager and the article itself, which highlighted Roethlisberger's superior achievements: a top-five peak, longevity, and playoff success unmatched by the current group (only Hurts has a ring, while Herbert/Love have minimal postseason experience). The article disputed Tannenbaum's claim that Burrow could surpass Roethlisberger, noting Burrow's statistical advantages stem from era/scheme differences but emphasizing his deficit in championships and wins compared to Roethlisberger's transformative impact in turning the Steelers into immediate contenders.

The piece also contextualized Tannenbaum's take as part of a pattern of inaccurate Roethlisberger critiques, recalling his failed 2021 benching prediction and erroneous 2020 ranking of Roethlisberger as the AFC North's worst QB. It concluded that Tannenbaum's latest hot take overlooks Roethlisberger's legacy and carries little weight given his history of dismissive assessments.