At some point in the next four weeks, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 2023 season will be over, and they’ll again be faced with some big decisions at the most critical position on the team.
While they already have their quarterback for the next two seasons, maybe more (yes, that’s Kenny Pickett), an instant starter-capable backup is paramount. Pickett has yet to play a full season and remains in the developmental phase of his career.
That could be Mason Rudolph, but the Steelers have been so hot and cold with him that it wouldn’t be surprising if he gave them the middle finger and went elsewhere.
That is unless Mike Tomlin crosses his heart in a promise of a true quarterback competition this offseason. He could be lured back with the opportunity to earn the starting gig.
But all of this depends on what Rudolph does, which is months away from being determined. Should he jump ship, it’ll be not one but two quarterbacks the Steelers will have to bring in (provided the Steelers dump Mitch Trubisky).
“It all is going to hinge on what Rudolph does,” The Athletic’s Mark Kaboly wrote. “If Rudolph leaves as a free agent, then yes, they have to bring in somebody, but I can’t see it being competition for Pickett as the starter. I’m telling you: Pickett is going to get every benefit of the doubt as a first-round pick and probably should. Where the Steelers screwed up was by bringing back Matt Canada in January, starting what has snowballed into the belief that Pickett is a bust.”
For his own best interest, Rudolph will want to test the free-agent market. And given the value of a starter-worthy backup, he has leverage for the first time in his career.
Though he appears to be a nice guy and solid teammate, he’d never utter the words — Pickett’s injury and the botched Trubisky Experiment couldn’t have come at a better time for Rudolph’s future. No matter what happens in the postseason, he came in with little to no quality reps since 2019 and performed well enough to win games and keep their quest for a Lombardi Trophy alive. Teams desperate for a guy like that will pay top dollar for his services — a luxury he’s not yet tasted in his six-year career.
