Going into the 2024 season, the pittsburgh steelers want to have quarterback competition for kenny pickett, and it would be best if mason rudolph came after his solid finish to the 2023 season.
But with rudolph set to become a free agent and there being no guarantees of his return, they could set their sights on a veteran quarterback who has found success under new offensive coordinator arthur smith.
Ryan tannehill, a former tennessee titans starter, would, in theory, seem to be a natural fit as a pittsburgh starter. Pickett could be the type of challenge that the steelers want to try and push him, but he found his greatest success in tennessee when smith was his offensive coordinator. Tannehill led the titans to two playoff spots and two top-10 finishes as a starter in the 2019 and 2020 seasons.
The titans offense — and tannehill — took a big leap backward when smith left after the 2020 season to become head coach of the falcons. with rudolph about to become a free agent and mitch trubisky almost certain to be a salary cap cut, smith’s career — and success — with tannehill could make him a potentially lucrative short-term option. If nothing else, he should give them an upgrade over trubisky as a backup quarterback.
if they are going to be anything more than a nine-or-ten-win team that loses in the first round of the playoffs, the steelers must find a way to get more out of their quarterbacks. Pickett didn’t take the leap forward they had hoped in year two, and the team is now entering a make-or-break season. they have all of the pieces on offense to make it possible to have a successful team. Najee harris and jaylen warren are a solid running back duo, while george pickens, diontae johnson, and tight end pat friermuth are a versatile group of pass catchers, despite their inconsistentness.
When first-round pick broderick jones joined the team, their offensive line also improved dramatically. To put it all together, they just need a better quarterback game.
