Steelers Owe Kenny Pickett A Third Season As Anointed Starter According To Wild Claim By Dulac

The Pittsburgh Steelers have the challenging task of rebuilding their quarterback room for the second time since Ben Roethlisberger retired following the 2021 season. Whether it was a first-round draft pick or a promising free agent, the Steelers haven't been able to find their next franchise quarterback. As preparations are underway for the 2024 season, the Steelers have some decisions to make under center. One team insider sees those decisions as pretty straightforward; they start and finish with Kenny Pickett.

Steelers' Pickett Should Be The Focus Of The Franchise

The 2022 offseason was all about bringing in options to replace Roethlisberger at quarterback. Pittsburgh signed Mitch Trubisky to try to give the former second overall pick another chance, which never came to fruition. Pickett was the hometown passer who was supposed to develop into much more than the Steelers have seen from him so far.

Gerry Dulac still sees Pickett as the quarterback who should get the lion's share of attention. While his production hasn't been what one would expect from a former first-round pick (13 touchdowns and 13 interceptions in 25 games), Dulac believes that it will all come down to Pickett. All the rumors and talk about the Steelers bringing in another potential starter is just noise, according to Dulac, and the investment in Pickett will be the deciding factor.

"In any event, the Steelers are not interested in bringing in a quarterback who wants to be a starter. That would include Justin Fields and Kirk Cousins, and probably even Russell Wilson, who has a connection with the Steelers. They are committed to giving Pickett a third season to see if he is the guy to do more than just win a playoff game — something they haven’t done in a franchise-record seven years."

While it has been devastating for any Steelers fan to watch the team lose playoff games, it's a bigger ask for them to put their faith in Pickett. Going off Dulac's perspective, the possible error made by spending that 2022 first-round draft pick on Pickett is now the reason why they are handcuffed to him.

Pickett hasn't shown anything that would make the Steelers unequivocally believe that he will be the guy for the future of the franchise. Now, the prospect of creating a legitimate camp competition at the quarterback position would mean that whoever starts in 2024 would have truly earned it. If that is Pickett, then at least the challenge proved that he was actually the best man for the job, even if that seems like a long shot at best.

Steelers Would Benefit From Bringing Rudolph Back

While Dulac doesn't see anyone besides Pickett in the 2024 starting role, that doesn't mean the backups should be chosen at random. Pickett has dealt with injuries in both of his seasons as an NFL quarterback, so there is no reason to believe he can start 17 games without issue. Whoever is in the quarterback room with Pickett has to be ready if called upon, and Dulac sees Mason Rudolph as that guy.

"It would make sense for Rudolph to return, especially after the way he played and how he energized the offense in the final four games. His teammates like him, several have politicked for him, and another indicated there is enough of a question as to who should be the starter that the coaching staff needs to figure it out in a hurry...It becomes more problematic for the Steelers if they don’t re-sign Rudolph. Then they have to go back into free agency and find a veteran to be the No. 2 quarterback, something like they had in mind with Trubisky, who started 50 games with the Chicago Bears."

Rudolph was the one who ended up being the surprise X-factor down the stretch of the 2023 season. When the combination of Pickett and Trubisky had the Steelers looking at the very possible chance that they would miss the playoffs again, Rudolph stepped up. Now, Dulac doesn't see Rudolph coming back for 2024 to claim the starting spot, but rather, to be that surefire backup in the likely situation when Pickett is hurt.

Considering how long Rudolph waited in the wings as a Steelers' backup, the prospect of spending another season or two playing second-string can't be an attractive offer to Rudolph. After leading the 2023 Steelers to a three-game winning streak and a Wild Card berth, anything less than a legitimate shot at playing starting quarterback would be asking a lot from Rudolph. Whether 2024 is a Pickett-or-bust season or if the Steelers create a quarterback competition, there are plenty of questions left to be answered in Pittsburgh.

Will the Steelers bring in another potential starting quarterback ahead of the 2024 season? 

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