The Steelers added depth and a familiar name to the quarterback position today when they acquired eighth-year veteran quarterback Byron Leftwich from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a 2010 seventh-round draft pick.
Leftwich, 30, played with the Steelers in 2008 when he completed 21 of 36 passes for 303 yards, two touchdowns and a 104.3 passer rating. After joining the Steelers in training camp, Leftwich had his best game with the team on Nov. 3, 2008 when he completed seven of 10 passes for 129 yards, one touchdown and a 145.8 passer rating in one half of play in relief of an injured Ben Roethlisberger.
Leftwich was originally drafted seventh overall in the 2003 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars. He spent his first four seasons in Jacksonville (2003-06) and one season in Atlanta (2007) before signing with the Steelers in 2008.
Leftwich signed with Tampa Bay on April 13, 2009 and started the first three games of the season for the Buccaneers before being placed on the Reserve/Injured List with an injured elbow. Leftwich has completed 900 of 1,545 passes (58.3 percent) for 10,218 yards, 58 touchdowns, 41 interceptions and a 79.6 passer-rating during his seven NFL seasons. He has started in 49 of the 57 games played during his NFL career.
The Steelers traded the first of their two 2010 seventh round picks (18th in the round, 225th overall) to Tampa Bay in return for Leftwich. The Steelers now have 10 picks in this year's NFL Draft.
