The Steelers’ quarterbacks room is already set to look a bit specific after the anticipated current departure of Mitch Trubisky. According to Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the group is hoping that it won’t alternate tons more as they goal to hold backup quarterback Mason Rudolph shifting forward.Unlike Trubisky, Rudolph’s viable exit is a result of free agency. A former third-round draft pick in 2018, Rudolph has performed out his rookie contract plus two one-year extensions. The Steelers became to Rudolph early in his career, when he started out eight games in 2019, but he hasn’t considered that many starts offevolved in the four years since.
When standard starter Ben Roethlisberger went down with an harm in 2019, Rudolph led Pittsburgh to 5 wins in eight starts. After a physical on-field scuffle with Browns protective give up Myles Garrett, throughout which Garrett accused him of the usage of a racial slur, and a negative performance the following week, Rudolph used to be benched in favor of Devlin Hodges. He wouldn’t start every other game till a relaxation day for the starters at the cease of the 2020 season and as soon as again as a COVID-19 substitute for Roethlisberger in 2021. He would spend the entire 2022 season on the bench after being relegated to third-string obligations behind Trubisky and then-rookie Kenny Pickett.
This year, Rudolph saw his first extended motion in 4 years. With the Steelers’ season circling the drain as one of the league’s least environment friendly offenses, Rudolph in the end discovered his way to the field. With Pickett sidelined with injury, Trubisky was in for a begin in opposition to the Colts in Week 14. Rudolph stepped in due to Trubisky’s struggles and would start the subsequent two video games as to new No. 2 in the back of an injured Pickett.
When Pickett was once cleared to play in a must-win regular-season finale against the Ravens, though, Pittsburgh opted to trip with Rudolph. Led by using Rudolph, the Steelers beat the normally second-string Ravens and made the playoffs. Rudolph was once once more selected as the team’s starter when they traveled to Buffalo for a Wild Card recreation towards the Bills.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 at some point of the year? Apparently, according to Dulac, that identical sentiment has precipitated some inside division within the Steelers’ organization, creating a camp that believes Rudolph have to be the starter when the 2024 season opens. In order to make that happen, though, the crew will have to locate 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 reviews that the Steelers “are now not fascinated in bringing in a quarterback who desires to be a starter.” That policies Pittsburgh out of the race for quarterbacks who are reputedly available like Justin Fields, Kirk Cousins, or even maybe Russell Wilson. It likely policies out a high-end rookie passer like Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, or Jayden Daniels, as well. They may additionally move 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.
