The Pittsburgh Steelers have been making headlines this week after they completed a wild upset in Week 1 on the road against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals were a seven-point favorite over the Steelers, which was the second largest point spread of Week 1 in the NFL. The Steelers franchise and fan base were both on cloud nine Sunday afternoon, but one particular franchise lost a big piece of their team early into the season, and now might be looking for a replacement. Dallas Cowboys quarterback, Dak Prescott suffered a right thumb fracture and was required to have surgery on his right thumb on Monday.
Nov 13, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) throws a pass against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second half of their game at Heinz Field. The Cowboys won the game, 35-30. Mandatory Credit: Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports
NFL fans know that the owner/general manager of the Cowboys, Jerry Jones, has the tendency to make splash moves, and compulsive decisions time and time again. Now with Prescott being sidelined for multiple weeks, will the Cowboys be in the market for a quarterback that can step in and keep the team afloat until Prescott comes back?
Jones made it clear in an interview with 103.5 The Fan in Dallas that the Cowboys were going to turn to quarterbacks already on their roster to be Prescott's replacement over the next month. But Rich Eisen of The Rich Eisen Show weighed in on the Cowboys' options and his take on the team's situation. Eisen believes the Steelers' third string quarterback Mason Rudolph might be their answer:
"I would call up the Pittsburgh Steelers right now, and overpay for Mason Rudolph." - Eisen on The Rich Eisen Show
CLEVELAND, OH - NOVEMBER 14: Mason Rudolph #2 of the Pittsburgh Steelers runs out on to the field prior to the start of the game against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on November 14, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)
Eisen went on to recall the last time Prescott missed significant time due to a broken leg and what ended up happening to the Cowboys the rest of the season. Former Bengals quarterback, Andy Dalton was Prescott's replacement who ended up suffering a concussion, which left the Cowboys with Ben DiNucci to start against the Steelers in 2020. Eisen also mentions that the lack of weapons the Cowboys have now compared to 2020, makes Rudolph a more intriguing option if the team has to resort to a third-string quarterback due to injury again.
Eisen didn't dig into the comparison of Cowboys' current backup quarterback, Cooper Rush and Rudolph, but he did touch on how he believes Rudolph is much better than former West Virginia Mountaineers and the Cowboys' third-string quarterback, Will Grier.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback, Mason Rudolph (#2) during 2022 training camp in Latrobe, PA. | Credit: Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
What would the Cowboys "overpaying for Rudolph" look like for the Steelers?
Hypothetically, if Eisen is right and the Steelers do in fact trade Rudolph to the Cowboys, I believe the return would have to be significant (in terms of trading for a non-starting player). With Rush knowing the Cowboys system, it would be hard to see them being too desperate to make any moves for a quarterback just yet. The Steelers have made it seem as if they are happy to hold on to Rudolph the rest of the season or until a team becomes desperate and needs a quarterback to step in and be a stop-gap solution.
I believe what teams offer the Steelers compared to what the Steelers want in return, are two completely different things. Realistically, I believe Rudolph is worth a 6th-round or a 7th-round pick and not much more. I believe the Steelers are looking for a 4th-round pick or similar in return for Rudolph, which is what Eisen believes the Cowboys should do.
Rudolph still provides value to the Steelers, even though he did not dress in Week 1. He will be a major help on the sideline to both quarterbacks ahead of him on the depth chart and provide valuable insight. He has stated in the past that he is willing to help both Mitch Trubisky and Kenny Pickett in 2022, and leave the rest of the decisions to the front office. I personally believe the Steelers should keep the phone lines open on Rudolph and accept any trade that is a 5th-round pick or better.
What do you think? If you were in the Steelers front office, what would your asking price be on Mason Rudolph? Tell us in the comment section below!
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