CBS Analyst: Steelers Certainly Need To Be Exploring Quarterback Options From The Outside.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have indicated that 2022 first-round select Kenny Pickett will be given each and every hazard in the world to show that he can be the guy in his 0.33 season, after his first two have been marred by way of harm and inconsistency. Mason Rudolph performed tremendously well down the stretch to assist Pittsburgh earn a playoff spot, but is a pending free agent and might have preferences backyard of the Steel City this offseason. 

Many analysts across the country agree with the group desires to take a serious seem at getting some outside help by way of free enterprise or a exchange If Pittsburgh is serious about doing more than simply sneaking into the postseason in 2024. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac suggested there used to be some internal division about whether or not to go with Pickett or Rudolph as the beginning quarterback next season. 

Former Steelers cornerback Bryant McFadden and CBS Sports senior writer, Will Brinson, discussed the quarterback state of affairs off of the document that the crew was finding out between Pickett and Rudolph to be the starter. Both agreed that Pittsburgh can’t surely carry again the same quarterbacks as 2023, minus Mitch Trubisky, who has already been cut. 

“This is a group that has too a lot intelligence to waste, particularly in a actually tough division,” Brinson said. “This is a rock and a hard location with the Steelers. I’ll tell you what, provide me a third-party candidate. I assume you go get somebody else.”

McFadden stated that searching at the AFC North with Joe Burrow returning to full health, Lamar Jackson clean off his 2d league MVP Award, and Deshaun Watson coming returned healthful as properly for 2024, the Steelers with Rudolph or Pickett would be at the bottom of the pecking order. The mix of Rudolph and Pickett used to be correct enough to tightly closed a Wild Card berth in 2023, however if the crew has greater ambitions in 2024, they want to discover any other serious option. 

“One factor we understand about the NFL, it is a quarterback league,” McFadden said. “If you have aspirations of competing for a Super Bowl, you need to have that man at the quarterback position. Unfortunately, for Pittsburgh proper now, as we see it, Kenny Pickett has been up and down. We noticed a satisfactory resurgence of production when Mason Rudolph jumped into the lineup in 2023, but is he that sustainable for a full year?” 

Brinson also had questions about Rudolph that led to questioning Pickett. He said it’s a problem for the Steelers that Rudolph, who has been placing round the organization biding his time till the subsequent chance to play, pushed Pickett to the bench. 

The Steelers will have options in free business enterprise and then the NFL Draft to fill out the quarterback room. Former Miami Dolphins and Tennessee Titans quarterback, Ryan Tannehill has been a popular candidate to land with the Steelers due to his success beneath new Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith when they have been collectively with the Titans. Pittsburgh probably may not have a shot at the top quarterback prospects like Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, or Jayden Daniels. The organisation should seem at the next stage of Bo Nix, and Michael Penix Jr. however, if the business enterprise needs a younger signal-caller to be the competition that Mike Tomlin stated would be added in. 

Steelers’ Top Options According To Brinson

Brinson started out the conversation with how a lot he likes the thinking of getting Chicago Bears quarterback, Justin Fields in a trade. ESPN pronounced in January that an informal poll of league evaluators idea it would take a 2nd or third-round choose to pry Fields away from the Bears. The Steelers may no longer prefer to section with any draft capital, especially in these early rounds, due to the other desires on Pittsburgh’s roster. That capability that free corporation is a more possibly avenue. 

Brinson was a huge fan of the idea that the Steelers must pursue former Super Bowl-winning quarterback, Russell Wilson. He recounted that the 35-year-old has started out to appear washed up on both the Denver Broncos and the Seattle Seahawks, however he offers the crew extra upside than Pickett or Rudolph. 

The team will have lots of different choices to make in the 2024 offseason. The ones it makes at quarterback will be watched underneath a microscope because, as McFadden noted, it is particularly difficult to compete in this league without a respectable man at the position. 

Who do you suppose the 2024 Steelers quarterbacks be?