The Pittsburgh Steelers are coming off a season the place they received 10 video games and made the playoffs as they shuffled by way of three completely different quarterbacks. One-and-done within the postseason won’t sound like an accomplishment, however for this staff with that offense, loads much less was anticipated. Understanding the struggles on the QB place in 2023, it’s a little bit unusual to listen to the Steelers aren’t more likely to pursue one other veteran QB that might problem for the beginning job subsequent season.
Kenny Pickett was drafted to be the successor to Ben Roethlisberger, however that transition hasn’t gone as easily as head coach Mike Tomlin and the entrance workplace had hoped. Now there appears to be a cut up of allegiances throughout the group after Mason Rudolph went 3-0 because the starter late within the yr and helped Pittsburgh earn a playoff berth. Huge Ben additionally added gas to this hearth again in December when commenting on his time as a teammate with Rudolph.
“When Mason played for me, I was trying to help Mason as much as I could,” Roethlisberger shared on his “Footbahlin’” podcast on Dec. 31. “Then he just he never… he didn’t want my help anymore, so I backed off,” Roethlisberger mentioned.
These feedback apart, the Steelers have already got a QB battle heading into subsequent season and the brand new NFL yr doesn’t even formally begin till subsequent month. And let’s not forget Mitchell Trubisky was beforehand concerned as properly — he began a few video games final season that ended in losing efforts. Pickett and Rudolph each ended the season with profitable data as QB1 for Pittsburgh.
Whereas Rudolph has been in Pittsburgh for some time and performed properly, he’s been round for some time. He was a third-round choose in 2018 out of Oklahoma State. That is speculated to be Pickett’s time though some would say he hasn’t really claimed it. That’s a good argument as Pickett, whereas profitable some video games, hasn’t taken full command of the offense in some individuals’s eyes.
Pittsburgh did take a step in the fitting route midseason once they determined to part ways with former offensive coordinator Matt Canada. Their offense had been stale and underperforming for a while. Despite moving on from Canada some really feel the Steelers aren’t precisely set for the longer term at QB. Positive, Rudolph performed properly down the stretch and Pickett is seen because the chosen one. But when there’s a veteran QB on the market which may provide you with a greater probability, generally you’ve bought to go towards the grain.
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This franchise is understood for protection and working the ball. Whereas the protection remains to be on level, the times of profitable solely based mostly on what your protection does every week are over. You’ve bought to have a QB who’s able to placing the staff on his again a number of occasions every season. A man who can regularly make performs even beneath the worst of circumstances. It doesn’t need to be a top-five man however somebody in that 10-15 vary partnered with a stellar protection and succesful working recreation can take you someplace.
It’s going to be exhausting to make a run to the playoffs utilizing the identical system Tomlin and crew put in in ’23. And in that powerful, AFC North division, and a deep convention, it’s solely going to get harder whenever you don’t have a QB you possibly can depend on each recreation. If these throughout the franchise are cut up on Pickett and Rudolph, then it’s exhausting to be assured heading towards the ’24 marketing campaign.
Names like Kirk Cousins and Ryan Tannehill will likely be accessible. Tannehill will seemingly be a lot additional down the listing than Cousins, however the latter is coming off an Achilles tear. At his age (35) who is aware of what he’ll be when he returns? Tannehill is nearing the tip as properly it could appear, though he may be capable of are available in and push the younger fellas in coaching camp. Baker Mayfield is one other title on the market coming off an impressive bounce-back yr in Tampa Bay — and he’s not even 30 but.
So, there are some skilled names on the market, however they aren’t assured to maneuver the needle. If Pittsburgh isn’t contemplating bringing in a veteran arm, they’d higher be certain they’ve bought the man in the home already. Whether or not it’s Rudolph or Pickett, one in every of them must step up and steal the highlight leaving little doubt for Tomlin shifting ahead.
