The Pittsburgh Steelers have a good problem to have when it comes to the quarterback situation for 2022. They have more than enough viable quarterbacks to fill the starting and backup roles as we get closer to the start of the season. Mitch Trubisky, Mason Rudolph and Kenny Pickett have proven this conundrum to be true throughout the first three weeks of training camp.
But, as I have written about before, it seems that this "good problem" might run its course sooner rather than later. In an article published two weeks ago, I brought up the idea that trading Mason Rudolph may be more in the fold for the Steelers than most fans realize. Now might be the time the Steelers start to seriously consider doing this after the presumed starter of the New York Jets, second-year QB Zach Wilson, suffered a non-contact knee injury in a preseason game Friday night.
Zach Wilson comes up limping after an awkward cut while scrambling. #Jets pic.twitter.com/YkOYZ5sL6f
— Mike Giardi (@MikeGiardi) August 13, 2022
While Jets head coach Robert Salah told reporters in the post-game interview that the ACL was still intact, an MRI will be done Saturday to confirm if there is any damage to the knee.
The play does not look good. Wilson cuts inside and then comes up limping without absorbing any physical contact from another player, which is usually not a good sign. Obviously, the hope is that Wilson is okay and he can progress forward on his path to become the Jets franchise quarterback.
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY--DECEMBER 26: Quarterback Zach Wilson #2 of the New York Jets passes the ball against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the game between the Jacksonville Jaguars vs The New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on December 26, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Pereira/Getty Images)
But let's be hypothetical. Suppose the injury is serious, where Wilson could be missing a solid chunk of the season to even potentially the whole year. Where do the Jets go from there? Wilson played in just 13 games his rookie season, going 3-10 and throwing 9 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. His QBR was a 28.9, completion percentage was just over 55% and he was sacked 44 times. Now, he's hurt again, and the Jets are forced to throw in Mike White for a whole season.
That is unless, they find value in a potential trade target from Pittsburgh.
Steelers QB Mason Rudolph fits the Jets mold
The Jets aren't currently in a situation where the team is loaded, expectations are high and losing their quarterback severely hurts their chances at a deep playoff run. This is a team that is rebuilding and has a lot of young talent that needs to gel together and take off. People will link San Francisco 49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo to the job, and for good reason because he is the best trade target QB on the market right now. But it is really hard to see the Jets going for an older QB that is more built for a team that is contending for the playoffs and beyond.
That is why the Jets should take a flyer on Mason Rudolph.
Rudolph has been in the league for many years now and definitely got a chance in 2019 to prove he could be the Steelers QB of the future. Ultimately, it didn't workout, and questions then arose about who the next QB after Ben Roethlisberger would be. Hence, the predicament we are in now.
But, what was not expected was the progression that Rudolph has made. Even last season, in the rare times he saw the field, you could tell Mason Rudolph looked more poised and more comfortable than his 2019 season. He was making good plays in garbage time, which gave Steelers fans a little hope about him. Now, he's arguably been the best QB in training camp, tearing up one of the better defenses in the league and wowing Steelers fans with how good he looks.
Rudolph could be a perfect candidate for a player that is showing a ton of potential that could shine on a young and developing team like the Jets. And if it doesn't work out at first, he could try to prove himself again next season there or somewhere else.
Fans might argue, "That is why we should keep him and give him another shot." While I agree that his play definitely warrants another shot at a starting job, I do not think it will be with the Steelers because of the reasons I referenced in my article linked above and here as well.
The team still likes and respects Rudolph, which is why I think trading him to a situation where he can thrive is what is most likely to happen.
Prediction: Mason Rudolph and a 2024 6th Round Pick traded to New York Jets for a 2023 4th Round Pick
What do you think, #SteelerNation? Do you think the Steelers should trade Mason Rudolph to the Jets? Should the team hold onto him, or keep him around and let him compete for the starting or backup job? Let me know in the comments or @anthonyravasio on Twitter.
