The Steelers’ quarterbacks room is already set to look a bit different after the expected recent departure of Mitch Trubisky. According to Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the team is hoping that it won’t change much more as they reportedly aim to keep backup quarterback Mason Rudolph around moving forward. 
Unlike Trubisky, Rudolph’s possible exit is a result of free agency. A former third-round draft pick in 2018, Rudolph has played out his rookie contract plus two one-year extensions. The Steelers turned to Rudolph early in his career, when he started eight games in 2019, but he hasn’t seen that many starts in the four years since combined.
When usual starter Ben Roethlisberger went down with an injury in 2019, Rudolph led Pittsburgh to five wins in eight starts. After a physical on-field scuffle with Browns defensive end Myles Garrett, during which Garrett accused him of using a racial slur, and a poor performance the following week, Rudolph was benched in favor of Devlin Hodges. He wouldn’t start another game until a rest day for the starters at the end of the 2020 season and once again as a COVID-19 replacement for Roethlisberger in 2021. He would spend the entire 2022 season on the bench after being relegated to third-string duties behind Trubisky and then-rookie Kenny Pickett.
This year, Rudolph saw his first extended action in four years. With the Steelers’ season circling the drain as one of the league’s least efficient offenses, Rudolph finally found his way back to the field. With Pickett sidelined with injury, Trubisky was in for a start against the Colts in Week 14. Rudolph stepped in due to Trubisky’s struggles and would start the next two games as to new No. 2 behind an injured Pickett.
When Pickett was cleared to play in a must-win regular season finale against the Ravens, though, Pittsburgh opted to ride with Rudolph. Led by Rudolph, the Steelers beat the mostly second-string Ravens and made the playoffs. Rudolph was once again selected as the team’s starter when they traveled to Buffalo for a Wild Card game against the Bills the following week.
Rudolph’s late-season success had many asking the obvious question: why didn’t Pittsburgh turn to him sooner with all its struggles on offense throughout the year? Apparently, according to Dulac, that same sentiment has caused some internal division within the Steelers’ organization, creating a camp that believes Rudolph should be the starter when the 2024 season opens. In order to make that happen, though, the team will have to find a way to re-sign him, which appears to be their goal.
With Rudolph and Pickett viewed as the preferred contenders for the position, Dulac reports that the Steelers “are not interested in bringing in a quarterback who wants to be a starter.” That rules Pittsburgh out of the race for quarterbacks who are seemingly available like Justin Fields, Kirk Cousins, or even maybe Russell Wilson. It likely rules out a high-end rookie passers like Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, or Jayden Daniels, as well. They may make moves to add some solid, veteran backup depth at the position, but with Pickett already under contract, the aim, for now, is to lock down Rudolph, as well.
Telling that it took injuries for Randolph to sniff field. Offense was putrid w/Pickett n Trubisky and they couldn’t see or tell the difference between those 2 n Randolph in practice ? Even more important than identifying strengths n weaknesses on opposing teams is knowing n scouting your own players n realizing their strengths n weaknesses. It’s like Steelers goal is to be .500 team every yr.
As long as Tomlin doesn’t have a losing season.
Mason Rudolph blew until 3 games ago. Couldn’t beat a team that went 0-16 the year before.
If he soils the bed in his first start this year, he’s a UFL QB for the rest of his life.
Good for him for seizing his final chance but people are acting like he’s shown that his whole career. The exact opposite. Couldn’t beat a out a guy selling Buicks (or something) right now when his big chance came.
I understand your point, but you’re also exaggerating how bad Rudolph was. I don’t know why Steelers have turned to so much hyperbole lately (that us, the last five or so years) when it comes to quarterbacks and to coaches, but Hodges certainly wasn’t better than Rudolph. He was just a different guy, meant to start the offense. It seemed obvious to me that Haley’s scheme, while good, took a but more learning than either of those young QBs were prepared for at that time, but at the end of the day, Rudolph was more “ehhh” than downright terrible.
I am happy for Rudolph, and he’s shown that he’s clearly the most suited of out of those three that the Steelers previously employed to be a starting quarterback at the moment. Pickett still has some time, so a battle between the two seems appropriate. Remember that half of the reason that Rudolph did well was the change of playcallers that ran Harris between the tackles and under center more often, which allowed him to get going and gave the offense a more reliable run game. If Smith can continue that trend and stabilize that facet of the offense, it’ll take a lot of pressure of either Pickett or Rudolph. At this point, though, Rudolph’s reemergence is the best thing the Steelers have going for them on offense. It might be short lived, and Mason might sink back into panicked throws and not going through his progressions (which seems like the area in which he most definitely improved), but you have to give it a chance and acknowledge its value to the offense.
At his absolute best, Mason Rudolph’s ceiling is Geno Smith’s peak.
Eddie Murphy had a great bit about how when you’re starving and someone gives you a cracker, it’ll seem like the best cracker ever “Is that a Ritz?”.
That’s Mason Rudolph.
@AK – I’m a Steelers fan and don’t think it’s exaggerated when speaking of Rudolph. If he was good, he’d have had first crack. He hasn’t accomplished anything but the last few games to warrant confidence in him other than extending the opportunity. For now, I’d keep my ears open and entertain any available QBs on the market via FA or trade. Doubt there’s a deal to move up to the top, but I also doubt Rudolph is the answer going beyond the last few games he played.
Guess they need someone to throw balls to their practice squad receivers. This seems to signal that Trubiskey will soon be released.
They have already announced they are parting ways.
Turbisky already was released.
I’m team Mason.
obviously I don’t want Fields.
Fields isn’t even a QB
When the best compliment to a QB is ‘He’s great running QB!!’. Stay away. QB’s are supposed to throw the ball.
But he is wiry….lol
Couple things…who’s Randolph (jk) n Pittsburgh announced on Monday that Trubisky was going to be released.
People who whine about the Steelers accepting a ceiling of mediocrity want…Mason Rudolph. K.
Having said that…I don’t see a game of musical chairs where Rudolph does better for himself than in Pittsburgh.
Fields is talented enough that a team already passed on a #1 pick for him (wisely) and talented enough that it’s still to this moment considered plausible by most that they pass on a #1 pick again for him (even if they don’t in the end). If he can be had for a low enough price when they do finally deal him, he’s got a much higher ceiling than anyone else available.
Trade for him and let he and Pickett have a real battle (while signing a former Arther Smith QB to hold the clipboard as #3) and see who emerges.
Trade for Fields? At what point has Fields shown that he’s more promising than Rudolph in the long term? More appropriately, at what point has Fields shown value that would make him worth that cost, as opposed to Rudolph, who is will only cost a cheap contract?
If you’re going to trade for Fields, he’s going to battle whoever is in Pittsburgh. He’s not guaranteed to start. If you’re going to introduce someone new to this competition, it should someone who you think has better long term potential than who you already have. I don’t see much more long term potential from Fields than I do Rudolph. Sure, he may show you flashes for a handful of games…but isn’t that what you just got from Rudolph? And, as much as Rudolph’s resurgence is likely temporary, his skillset is still more time-friendly than Fields’ scrambling ability will be.
Again, if a team trades for a new quarterback in a situation like this, he should be a starter, and I don’t see how Fields wouldn’t have to battle Rudolph for the starting spot if he came in right now. If the Steelers are going to introduce someone new, it will have to be someone with real long term upside than outshines a trio of players (Fields is included with Rudolph and Pickett in this hypothetical scenario) who have already lost their chances to be franchise starters once in the past.
Didn’t speak to who has shown the most.
I spoke to who has the most talent and the highest ceiling and, thus, the most upside.
If every single QB currently available to the Steelers were to max out their talent, Fields would be the best of them, handily.
If every other QB available to them maxes out their talent, they are still well behind the Mahomes, Allens, Jacksons of the league anyway.
I actually agree that Rudolph is limited, but you have to consider who’s shown the most as part of the process. Potential is theoretical, history is palpable, after all. While Rudolph has had periods of obvious ineffectiveness, in his short window of success he gave the offense more than either Pickett or Trubisky. That’s not saying much, but you shouldn’t just dismiss it entirely because of expectations. I’m not sure that this rebirth lasts, but Rudolph did actually look like he had developed since his last start, which rarely happens on the bench.
I agree that the Steelers should be on the lookout for new QBs, but I disagree that they should toss Rudolph and I disagree that they should give up assets for unclear upgrades like Fields. Rudolph is the bird in the hand that shouldn’t be carelessly discarded for the birds in the bush at this current moment. If the Steelers decide to use a third or above pick on a QB, it should probably be in the draft.
I’d trade a 5th or 6th for Fields. Picks in rounds 1-3 are supposed to be used on competent starters, not backup material.
Fields would be of more value than most backups but trading for him also would involve picking up his 5th year option and giving him a healthy pay raise. That will discourage several teams from pursuing him…especially if the Bears remain delusional about getting a 2nd round pick for him.
I guess Steelers are trying to treat QB position like RBs were last off season.
STEELERS FO: QbS aRe iNtErcHanGeAbLe
Had 5 years to see what Mason is. Come on man gotta stop acting like the guy lit the world on fire. And Kenny had 1 game where he didn’t have Canada scripting the plays or calling the plays and he had the best game of his career by far.
Not saying Kenny is the answer but I want to see him with a real OC before I pass judgement & call him a bust.
Mahomes
Allen
Burrow
Hebert
Rodgers
Lawrence
Stroud
Tua
Jackson
Man, for such a storied franchise like PIT you’d think they would realize their QB situation is so putrid! They HAVE to get a QB that can get this offense going. Neither of these guys (Rudolph or Pickett) have proven they can move this offense down the field. And the awful part of it is that the rest of this squad (outside of needing more depth at WR) is pretty good. I feel for Pittsburgh fans next season. Sounds like you’re gonna get stuck with these same lame QBs.
I don’t think they deny that their QB situation is a problem. I feel they tried to address it by drafting Rudolph and hoping he developed behind Ben for his last couple years. Then when they realized he didn’t develop like they hoped the picked up
A reclamation project like they did when they picked up Tommy Maddox. The very next draft I don’t think they believed Pickett would fall to them & he was supposedly the best QB in that draft so they took him just like Ben in 04.
They also brought in Dwayne Haskins so it’s not like the haven’t tried to fix the position it’s just hard to do with where they pick every year unless they are willing to give up a ton of assets to move up in the draft to get a top QB prospect who may not work out either.
I have faith in Weidle & Khan to figure it out.
My biggest thing though is everybody has this clear opinion of Kenny that he is horrible but the last time we seen him in a full game he clearly had the best game of his career with a new play caller that had to call plays from a horrible playbook.
I just assume give the kid the year to see what he could do with a real OC with a real playbook calling the plays in that playbook.
The worst that could happen is he shows he is as bad as ppl think he is and it puts us in a better position to draft a top QB prospect or the best case scenerio he proves most ppl wrong and he shows it really was Canada that held him back.
In the NFL, you should either be building for the future, or trying to get the remaining few pieces to get to a championship. Due to the rules implemented over the past two decades, without a top 10 starting QB, it is almost impossible to achieve a championship now. Unless Pittsburgh feels one of the non top 3 QB’s in this draft are the potential answer, they have to improve at QB. They don’t seem to have the cap room for a Kirk Cousins, so they are stuck in the worst spot you can be….NFL mediocrity limbo. As the other star players age, they keep running out QB’s that have no realistic chance to get them a championship. Does anyone truly think Pickett or Rudolph are championship caliber QB’s? If they do, they are watching a different football game then I am. Personally, if the price is right, I think Fields does offer the best upside, and has a much better chance of developing into a franchise caliber QB than anything there presently. Whether it is Fields, Nix, Penix, etc, they have to AT LEAST try and find a solution, without, hopefully, overpaying.
I agree with most you are saying & I am obviously in the minority & I really don’t have any dog in the fight but I really don’t believe we know what Pickett is yet.
I really feel like he was hamstrung by Canada’s playbook & play calling.
And I mean what has Rudolph done that was so impressive ? I just don’t see it.
It felt like Canada fell in love with the back shoulder pass to Pickens which in its self is a very low percentage play but to have it be called like a kid finding a play in Madden & running it to death makes it even harder to consistently pull off.
Rudolph hit Pickens on a couple plays where the receiver out ran the defense. Was that really Mason or was that Pickens speed ?
If you wanna say Pickett can’t read a defense and that may be true but I can’t say that is definitive because he has lead some comeback victories he doesn’t throw many interceptions & his allowance to call out of a play had been extremely limited up to this point.
Like I said I don’t have any ties to Pickett if he fails he fails but I don’t think he was given the best opportunities to succeed and really don’t know what we got in him yet.
That is more of a detriment to Tomlin than anything else because of his wanting to keep the reigns on Kenny. And anyone who says it’s because of Kenny’s abilities I would still not agree because Tomlin had Ben up til this point so that was basically all he knew. And he knows not to many guys are gonna be able to do what Ben did all those years so he plays it more conservatively. He did it with Mason & Duck the year Ben was hurt as well. He just wanted those guys to not lose the game and never cared if they were the ones that would have to win the game.
Artie Smith got the most out of Tannehill & I think Kenny deserves a shot to see if he could develop into that this year.
It’s not like they are SuperBowl contenders and any option they have a chance to bring in will change that. So draft this year to strengthen everything around Kenny and if he fails you have pieces to be around a young QB you draft next year.
If anything should be looking to move down in the draft & be able to gain assets for next years draft so that if a QB is there we have the ammunition to move up if need be and if Kenny succeeds than we got even more assets next year to improve tte team even more.
I have little doubt Pittsburgh will stick with Pickett/Rudolph next season. I have little doubt that they won’t be anywhere close to good enough to make them a true contender for a championship. The Watts and Fitzpatrick’s will be a year older when they desperately try and attack the same obvious QB problem next year. I do agree, that there doesn’t seem to be many viable solutions. The problem Pittsburgh has, is that, they keep finishing in the top of the middle of the NFL pack, which really limits their opportunities to find a franchise QB. They would just be best off having an absolute tanked season, at a time a franchise QB was, hopefully, available in the draft.
No qb worse than Pickett