It wasn't expected that the Pittsburgh Steelers would bring back veteran quarterback Mason Rudolph. In fact, it seemed like a foregone conclusion that he would be signing elsewhere in free agency. It was his first time hitting free agency in his four-year career, and he had seen just two games of action in the past two years. That included not seeing the field once during the 2022 regular season, although he did have some film from the preseason.
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Steelers quarterbacks Mason Rudolph, Kenny Pickett, and Mitch Trubisky participate in drills in 2022 training camp in Pittsburgh, PA.
With Kenny Pickett locked in as the future starter and Mitch Trubisky the primary backup, Rudolph only had a role as the third quarterback. Pittsburgh desperately needed a third quarterback still, as they tried out the likes of Tanner Morgan and Bryce Perkins at rookie minicamp. It seems as if neither of those two (or Hunter Johnson) impressed, because Rudolph was signed shortly thereafter. The veteran QB discussed his free agency options on the Steel Here podcast with Kevin Adams and Jersey Jerry.
"I'm not gonna name teams, because I'm apart of the only team that matters now, but I had opportunities [elsewhere]. I tried to be reasonable with the expectation that I've got two starts in the last three seasons, not a whole lot of game tape to go off of. But at the same time, there's so many things that are attractive about this place," Rudolph said on the Steel Here podcast.
He mentioned a few different reasons as to why he ultimately ended up back in Pittsburgh. Mike Tomlin played a role in that, as well as the continuity Rudolph has with the quarterbacks and offense overall. Additionally, he believes the front office has built a roster that can go win a Super Bowl. While it would have been a stretch for him to find a starting spot somewhere, many thought the Oklahoma State product would have no problem finding a backup job.
Were Steelers the best option for Rudolph in free agency?
Rudolph referred to the "grass isn't always greener," a phrase many don't realize until it's too late. Now the two sides agreed to a one-year deal, and presumably he will entertain his options again next offseason. On Thursday, General Manager Omar Khan announced that the team will be extending Trubisky to a two-year deal. That means Pickett and Trubisky are locked in as the top two guys for the foreseeable future, of course barring any injuries.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
It was crucial for the Steelers to bring back veteran Mason Rudolph, as the options for their No. 3 quarterback spot were slim.
Rudolph doesn't have anywhere to go but the QB3 spot with the Steelers, a reason he wanted to explore his options in free agency in the first place. The quarterback has appeared in just 17 games, including 10 starts, in his career after being a third-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. Those appearances have come with mixed results, as he's completed 61.5% of his passes for 2,366 yards, 16 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. Pittsburgh is happy to have that kind of experience back in the fold.
How excited are you to have the Oklahoma State product back as the team's No. 3? Do you think Trubisky or Rudolph should be the primary backup to Pickett? Is Rudolph the best QB3 in all of football? What kind of statistics will this quarterback room put up in the 2023 campaign? Share your thoughts in the comment section below, yinz!
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