The Steelers have their quarterback of both the present and the future in first-round rookie Kenny Pickett, but their depth chart at the position could see plenty of turnover soon. Backup Mitch Trubisky and third-stringer Mason Rudolph are in a position to look elsewhere this offseason. 
Detailing both veterans’ situations, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette writes that it is “a safe bet to assume” Rudolph and Trubisky will not be back in 2023. The former is a pending free agent, so he will have the option of signing with a team which will give him at least a No. 2 role. That appeared unlikely to be available this year in Pittsburgh, given the addition of Trubisky in free agency and the subsequent decision to draft Pickett.
Those moves made Rudolph a logical trade candidate, but his experience and the relative uncertainty surrounding the other two signal-callers led the Steelers to keep him in the fold. The 27-year-old has made 10 career starts, but only two of those have come since 2019. That will no doubt lead to a modest free agent market, but with the prospect of starting in Pittsburgh no longer in play, a move elsewhere would come as little surprise. Dulac does add, however, that the Steelers would “probably” welcome the Oklahoma State product back if he were interested in re-signing.
Trubisky, meanwhile, has one year remaining on the $14MM deal he signed this offseason. That contract put him in line to operate as a starter after a one-year No. 2 stint with the Bills last season, but the addition of Pickett one month later – which, as Dulac mentions, the Steelers did not inform Trubisky of prior to doing so – led to immediate predictions that he would be a temporary starter at best. The former Bear was replaced by Pickett midway through Week 4, and the Steelers have committed to him as the starter moving forward.
Dulac therefore predicts a mutual parting of ways via a trade this offseason which will allow Trubisky, 28, to at least compete for a No. 1 gig with what would be his fourth career franchise. His 2023 cap hit of $10.6MM would make him an inexpensive bridge starter, or an experienced backup for any number of teams.
Pittsburgh will move forward with Pickett at the helm into 2023, but a departure from both Rudolph and Trubisky would leave the team in need of multiple additions. On that point, Dulac names Joshua Dobbs as a name to watch, as the 2017 Steelers fourth-rounder has bounced around to the Jaguars and Browns but has still yet to make an appearance for a team other than Pittsburgh. In any case, the team’s plans at the position will be worth monitoring when they turn their attention to rebounding from a disappointing 2022 campaign.
Dobbs should be signed to the PS and held for next year. Cut or trade Trubisky. Either roll with Dobbs or resign Mason as #2.
I wouldn’t blame Rudolph if he wants a change of scenery, but is there a #2 job out there where he has a better chance of starting games than Pittsburgh?
The OL stinks and Pickett likes to play roulette taking hits trying to make plays. Injury waiting to happen. And he knows the offense and players and coaches in Pittsburgh already. I just can’t see any team looking at him as a bridge starter for 2023. There’s too many better options.
I agree with your post, but I don’t think that Dobbs brings anything to the table. Rudolph is on a one year deal, which lends itself to the belief that he’ll likely leave. Pittsburgh likely won’t offer him a multi-year offer, which is likely what he wants, and it’s doubtful that he’ll have another chance to start. Other teams, such as Detroit, Houston, Carolina, Seattle, or even Denver, might be places that Rudolph is eyeing as spots to get a better chance to get into games. No guarantee, of course, but Rudolph may try to get into a couple of games as a bridge starter and rebuild his stock.
Pittsburgh I think is more likely to try to go for a player who is settled in as a backup and has some experience if one is available, such as Nick Mullens or Joe Flacco, both of whom will be available. Trubisky could fall into that category, but he likely will try to find a spot to work his way into the starting spot once more. I doubt he returns to Pittsburgh after losing out on it so early.
Only so many bridge starter spots available though. There’s somewhere between a half dozen and dozen guys that’ll be available and more attractive to teams other than PIT. I can make a list if desired but I’d rather not take the time.
Dobbs is well liked on the org and Ben spoke highly of him as an “extra QB coach”. Thats a valuable guy to have as a #3. Can certainly sign a UDFA to push him, but I hope they stop wasting draft picks on backup QBs. It’s just not necessary.
I agree that there aren’t many bridge starter spots available. It just seems inevitable that Rudolph will try for one, though. The slight chance that he has this next offseason to secure one of those jobs is probably his last chance to compete for a starting gig. I think Rudolph will try for one.
I also agree that the Steelers should not draft a backup. The QB room would be entirely too young. That’s why I believe that they’ll sign a veteran backup, preferably one with some ingame experience. Dobbs does not have much of that, and what little he has has been quite awful. Having him as a coach is nice, considering the fact that he’s extremely intelligent and seems to be a hard worker, but he would be a real liability if he had to enter a game-at least, a bigger liability than someone like Mullens, Flacco, or Foles (if he were available). Andy Dalton is on a one year deal as well, in the event that becomes relevant…
Dulac has been consistent in his thoughts on Rudolph since training camp. Can’t say I disagree. The kid had a big arm at OSU and appeared ready for the next level. His only “crime” was being drafted and subsequently shunned by a veteran QB who was insulted because the team had the audacity to look at life after their HoF QB was over
Seems like he’s been under the gun ever since
Look, I’m not a big Rudolph fan. He appears jumpy in the pocket and has tunnel vision. But why would he stay?
And Trubisky? A mistake from the start
Hope Kenny pans out. The jury is still out
They should look into the FA market and Pickett should be regulated to the 2. He’s not playing great, 3:9 TD/INT is embarrassing and I don’t wanna hear he’s a rookie. When he was drafted Tomlin and Colbert praised his readiness and being an older rookie. That fell, FLAT.
The 3:9 is misleading. He hasn’t played well but 5 (6?) of the INTs were on tipped balls, a receiver falling down, and a receiver running the wrong route. Hasn’t thrown one since the bye.
The TDs? Honestly, they seem afraid to let him throw in the red zone. Maybe because of the INTs, which again, would be stupid. Usually run, run, pass. Several dropped TDs.
Considering he has a patchwork oline and a dunce as an OC, he is playing admirably if unspectacularly.
If they end up picking Top 5 I’d consider drafting one of the Big 3 because I don’t believe he has an elite ceiling, but I don’t want a FA unless his name is Brady or Rodgers. Or hell maybe Cousins or Carr.
LOL 6 of them were not on tipped balls. 2. And one to Claypool was a bad decision, the one he threw 5 feet over Muth. Those are on Pickett. Give me Garoppolo over Pickett. Steelers win 12 games if Jimmy G was the QB this year.
LOL learn to read. I said 5 were on tips (3), receiver falling (1), and receiver (appearing to) running the wrong route (1).
Thats 5, and he only has thrown 8. Additionally 1 more was a game ending hail mary. So that’s 6.
He has thrown 2 blatantly bad balls that have been picked. Then his tipped INT to Muth was high and just a dumb throw to make.
As I said, misleading. And learn to read LOLOLOL.
I was a big proponent of Pickett when he was drafted. I watched his evolution at Pitt and thought it was a great choice, but I also thought that Trubisky would be the bridge for this year
That said, I hope they don’t regret pulling the plug on Mitch way too early. Given this O-line, receivers who have 2-3 drops a game and an OC who apparently has no ability to put a game plan together for an entire game, Kenny has been ok
Whether he can be elite or very good with those problems is another story. They need to beef up the line and yes, get a new OC in the off season. Only then will we know what the kid can truly do
He didn’t look great at Pitt. He played 5 years, 4 of them lackluster. He had the best receiver in the NCAA that year too.
I would love the irony of Andy Dalton wearing a Steelers jersey. He’s probably an upgrade over the backup QBs they have now.
Get rid of both and see who becomes available next year