The Pittsburgh Steelers were able to sneak into the 2023 playoffs after an incredible three-game stretch from Mason Rudolph during the regular season's final few contests. It has opened up a can of worms in the organization, but a long look at Kenny Pickett without Matt Canada as his play-caller wasn't possible due to the former first-round pick's TightRope surgery. Rudolph is set to be a free agent, while Mitch Trubisky could be a cap casualty, so the future of the position for the franchise is a talking point until there are more answers than questions.
%202023%20Camp%20Final%20with%20Logos/2L9A5123-544x306.jpg "Steelers Kenny Pickett")
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter / X: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers quarterback, Kenny Pickett (#8) makes a throw during the team's 2023 training camp at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
Pittsburgh could, in theory, come to some sort of handshake agreement with Rudolph on an extension before he has the opportunity to test the free agency market. That's unlikely given how he played in the final stretch of the season. If his agent is smart, he would advise Rudolph to see how much he can get from another team looking to lure him out of the Steel City.
There are plenty of big names that will be available, such as Kirk Cousins, Ryan Tannehill and Baker Mayfield, while Justin Fields could be made available via a trade. A few teams in particular could end up reaching out to Rudolph depending on how the dominos fall for them in free agency.
1.) Minnesota Vikings
There's no guarantee that Cousins returns to play for the Minnesota Vikings, especially coming off of an Achilles tear. Wherever Rudolph ends up, it will be interesting to see if he goes after a situation where he can compete for a starting job, or if he is simply okay with being the unquestioned second-string signal-caller on a team that has the pieces in place to make a run at a Super Bowl.
The Vikings land first on this list due to both of those being possibilities. If Cousins returns, Rudolph would be a strong candidate to back him up over Jaren Hall. If Cousins elects to go elsewhere, the door could be wide open for Rudolph to jump in and become the full-time starter with weapons such as Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter / X: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Pittsburgh Steelers third-string quarterback, Mason Rudolph (#2) makes a throw during 2022 training camp at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
2.) Cincinnati Bengals
Rudolph's potential deal with the Cincinnati Bengals would be an interesting one. Jake Browning is in a similar situation as he will enter free agency following a nice relief effort after Joe Burrow's season-ending injury. Cincinnati could be interested in snagging Rudolph from the Steelers, and the interest could be mutual. Burrow has dealt with injuries in his career, and the Bengals should be a Super Bowl contender. It might be a win-win.
Rudolph will probably be inclined to enter a situation where he could be the starter, but depending on who reaches out, a true contender with a great quarterback to be around on a daily basis could be exactly what he is looking for.
3.) New York Jets
The New York Jets' quarterback situation was a disaster in 2023. After Aaron Rodgers was lost for the year due to a torn Achilles, an ugly mixture of Zach Wilson, Trevor Siemian and Tim Boyle wasn't exactly promising. Rudolph would immediately join as the number two, and no one is quite sure how much longer Rodgers would like to play for.
This is an attractive potential option because he gets to play alongside another future Hall of Famer, while also on a roster that will be considered a Super Bowl contender with Rodgers running the show on offense. Not to mention, a window to start in the near future if Rodgers decides to hang them up sooner rather than later.
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New York Jets quarterback, Aaron Rodgers stands in front of the media during his introductory press conference.
4.) San Francisco 49ers
The debate on whether Brock Purdy is a system quarterback or not will go on for a long time. He's the solidified starter for the San Francisco 49ers, but Sam Darnold is going to be a free agent and bringing in someone with a similar playing style might lead one to believe Rudolph could be a solid option in a backup role.
Rudolph would receive an opportunity here to dress as the number two, while also helping a team compete for a Super Bowl. Having the opportunity to work with Kyle Shanahan would just be another positive to look at from a career standpoint.
5.) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are going to try and sign Baker Mayfield to a long-term deal, but there's no guarantee of that happening. If it doesn't go as planned and he is disinterested in playing on a franchise tag, the Buccaneers will be searching for someone to come in and compete with Kyle Trask. It's not the perfect fit, but certain happenings could lead to Tampa Bay being an attractive place for a guy like Rudolph.
Steelers' Rudolph Ultimately Needs To Decide What He Is Looking For
Rudolph has been on the bench for the majority of his NFL career. As he approaches age 29, the concept of him being a starting quarterback for a long time aren't likely. He can decide that he wants to compete in Pittsburgh, or maybe elsewhere, but also could enjoy the idea of being a solidified second-stringer on a team ready to compete for a championship. Free agency is set to be much busier for him in 2024 compared to 2023.
Do you think any of the teams above could be interested in Rudolph? Let us know in the comments below!
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