Steelers Free Agent Mason Rudolph Reportedly Hopeful To Find A Fresh Start Somewhere Other Than Pittsburgh

The Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback situation continues to be discussed by media members across the sport. In their defense, it is worth talking about. The quarterback position has been arguably the weakest link on the roster since Ben Roethlisberger walked away following the 2021 season. For the past two seasons, the room has consisted of Kenny Pickett, Mitch Trubisky and Mason Rudolph. All three have had differing degrees of rollercoaster-like tenures with the Steelers. Pickett has shown flashes of being a potential franchise quarterback, but injuries and inconsistent play have left more questions than answers.

Steelers' Quarterback Room Is In Flux

Trubisky has simply not performed well since coming over from the Buffalo Bills in 2022. Rudolph finished 2023 strong, but he had not done much during his career to that point. NFL Network’s “The Insiders”, better known as Ian Rapoport, Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo, wrote about the Steelers quarterback room on Sunday morning. Their talk included what they are hearing will happen this offseason and Rudolph seems to be interested in playing somewhere new for the first time in his career.

"Rudolph, who will be a free agent next month, has indicated he’s interested in a fresh start after six seasons with the team that drafted him in the third round in 2018. Pickett, who sat behind Rudolph late in the season and into the playoffs after recovering from a high ankle sprain, will enter the offseason as QB1 again, but head coach Mike Tomlin has made clear “there will be competition.”"

The comments about potentially adding free agent Ryan Tannehill and cutting Trubisky will rightfully catch the eyes of many, but so should the comment about Rudolph. 

After six seasons as primarily the team’s second or third-string quarterback, Rudolph finally had a chance to show what he could do and he excelled. Rudolph led the Steelers to a 3-1 record (postseason included) with 945 passing yards and five touchdowns to just one interception. 

Aside from the stats, the offense just looked more fluid to watch than it did before Rudolph entered the starting lineup. Rudolph more importantly, led the team to three victories to close out the 2023 regular season and got the team into the playoffs. 

The news of Rudolph potentially wanting to take his talents elsewhere comes as a bit of a surprise. Comments from key figures such as Mike Tomlin, Art Rooney II, and the quarterback himself, had suggested that both the Steelers and Rudolph have a real interest in coming together to extend Rudolph's time in Pittsburgh. That seemed evident when Rudolph hopped on The Ramon Foster Show with his former teammate Ramon Foster, to discuss his exit meeting with Tomlin and Omar Khan.

"Yeah, it was good. Visited with Mike T. and Omar [Khan] both and it's so early. I mean it's like three or four days after we played our last game. So there's a lot neither side of us knows. But I felt like they meant it when they said they'd like to have me back. I feel like they want to do business, future business with me. That's good to hear, but there are so many variables and it's still early. Who knows what will happen." 

That sounds like someone who would want to be back, but who knows? Maybe Rudolph feels that he will not be given a fair shot to win the job. Kenny Pickett is slated to enter the offseason as “QB1” according to the article by Rapoport and co. Rudolph could decide that he does not want to continue to fight the same battle knowing that a similar result is the probable outcome. It will be interesting to follow what happens between Rudollph and the Steelers and what Rudolph’s market value might be. 

What do you think Steeler Nation? Will Rudolph leave? Should the Steelers fight to retain him? Let us know in the comments below.