The Steelers Parting Ways With Mitch Trubisky Has Massive Implications For Mason Rudolph

The Pittsburgh Steelers and Mitchell Trubisky agreed to part ways after an up, and mostly down, two-year relationship. With still a month to go until the new league year begins in March, Kenny Pickett is the only quarterback set to be back on the roster. That is certain to change, and there has been recent speculation about the organization targeting Ryan Tannehill, while Mason Rudolph is reportedly looking for a fresh start elsewhere. There are a lot of moving pieces, but the franchise already showing their cards when it comes to Trubisky tells Rudolph something that he may not have felt in the past.

The main reason Rudolph returned to the Steelers in 2023 was because there wasn't much interest in him on the free agent market. It's expected to be the opposite this time around. Playing another season in Pittsburgh may have been the best thing for Rudolph's career, as he stepped in during the final three games of the regular season to help lead the team to the playoffs.

He has veteran experience and a strong arm, which will be an attractive combination for teams looking for a solid second-string quarterback. The issue for him may be that he believes he deserves to compete for a starting position. The Steelers made the move to part ways with Trubisky for cap purposes and overall lack of production, but it also is a sneaky way of letting Rudolph know that he is desired in the Steel City.

There aren't going to be an overwhelming amount of opportunities to compete for a starting job, so what better place to do it other than Pittsburgh? Head Coach Mike Tomlin already chose Rudolph over Pickett multiples times to end 2023, which tells football fans he'd be willing to do the same if Rudolph has the hot hand in training camp and preseason.

There have also been talks about big names such as Russell Wilson or Justin Fields finding their way to Pittsburgh, but given how the organization has acted historically, either of those things happening are unlikely. Tomlin and co. need to sit down and comprehend that their offense was at its best in 2023 when Rudolph was under center.

Things have certainly taken a turn given the recent hire of new Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith, but Pickett should, and will, have a short leash once his third season begins in 2024. A move to bring in a guy like Tannehill doesn't scream "quarterback competition." It would be a safe play and make sense because of his familiarity with Smith.

Bringing back a guy like Rudolph, however, wouldn't just light a fire under Pickett to perform better, but it would give the Steelers two legitimate options in the long-term. A lot of people forget that Rudolph is still only 28 years old while Pickett is 25. It seems as if Rudolph has been around a lot longer, but that's not the case. If he could consistently play like he did at the backend of 2023, what fan wouldn't want him leading the way in the run-first, play-action offense that is coming to town?

Pittsburgh mutually parting ways with Trubisky certainly implies that a Rudolph reunion is possible, but will it be a two-way street? It will be interesting to see if the Steelers agree to a deal prior to the start of free agency. It's clear that the organization would be interested in him coming back, but is that just so he doesn't go elsewhere, or because they see him competing with Pickett for the starting job? It's a tough question to answer in mid-February.

Steelers Remain Behind The Eight Ball At The Quarterback Position

Those watching Super Bowl LVIII saw how important it is to have a dominant quarterback. If you don't have that, you need the perfect offense to fit a young signal-caller who is still growing. Brock Purdy and Patrick Mahomes have vastly different situations, but they showed throughout the postseason how important a formidable quarterback is, even when your defense is dominant. Pittsburgh needs to figure out the position quickly, or more years of TJ Watt's career will go to waste.

Do you think that Rudolph will return to Pittsburgh in 2024? Let us know in the comments below!

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