The Pittsburgh Steelers currently have one quarterback on their roster, Kenny Pickett. That is going to change. Pittsburgh is rumored to be interested in Kirk Cousins, Russell Wilson, and Justin Fields. Omar Khan did nothing to dispel that notion when he refused to comment on ongoing negotiations at his press conference on Thursday at the 2024 NFL Combine in Indianapolis.
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Steelers General Manager Omar Khan addresses the media on various topics at the 2024 NFL Combine.
Khan did reveal that the Steelers are interested in bringing Mason Rudolph back to Pittsburgh in 2024. The Pittsburgh general manager suggested it was preferable for the organization to negotiate a new deal with Rudolph before the new league year starts. It is a ticking clock that expires on March 13th.
On Friday, The Rich Eisen Show was on location at the NFL Combine. The show's namesake has drawn the ire of Steeler Nation with his relentless defense of Mike Tomlin during the 2023 season and disparaging fans as, in the kindest possible terms, less than knowledgeable about the future of his friend. Rich Eisen speculated that the Steelers' free agency search to fill the quarterback room would be limited to Rudolph.
"I don't think it's going to be a mystery quarterback," Eisen observed. "I'm not hearing anything here other than the fact that it's going to be one of those two. I would go with Kenny Pickett right now because he's the only one on their roster right now."
The recently retired Peter King told Mike Florio on Pro Football Talk Live shortly after the season ended that the Steelers "would be crazy" to go into 2024 with Pickett and Rudolph as their primary options. Eisen may disagree with the Steelers' plan, but he is doing his best Joe Friday impersonation and reporting just the facts.
"Mason Rudolph may have a market. They may have a quarterback competition between the two of these guys," Eisen stated. "I know this does not excite the Steelers at all. Russell Wilson or Kirk Cousins, or they are going to draft one, I don't hear that at all. I would go Kenny Pickett right now if I had to guess."
The Steelers and Khan may be pressing to sign Rudolph before he can explore the free agent market. Players and agents are supposed to be restricted by tampering rules before the opening of the league year, but it is one of the rules that the NFL selectively enforces. The reality is that if other teams are interested, it might not be so secret. It also may complicate the organization's plans to retain Rudolph's services.
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Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback, Mason Rudolph (2).
The six-year veteran quarterback may not have the Steelers on top of his wish list at this point in his career. Rudolph's best opportunity to be a starting quarterback would probably be in Pittsburgh, but certain events may conspire against him. The Steelers hired Arthur Smith as the new offensive coordinator, and he will face a new offense that does not ideally suit his skill set.
Rudolph also has a complicated relationship with Tomlin. He was pressed into a starting role in his second season when Ben Roethlisberger hurt his elbow in 2019. Rudolph endured a horrific injury himself against the Baltimore Ravens, and was at the center of the ugliest on-field incident in recent memory with Myles Garrett. He proceeded to lose his job to Devlin "Duck" Hodges for performance, and then when Tomlin turned back to him later in the season, Rudolph lost his job again due to injury.
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Steelers quarterbacks Devlin "Duck" Hodges (left) and Mason Rudolph (right) held down the fort at quarterback in 2019.
It is hard to believe that if anyone had been interested in Rudolph in free agency in 2023, he would have returned to Pittsburgh. When faced with the choice of selling insurance or getting paid to be the emergency quarterback, he chose one more year on an NFL roster. It allowed him to play the best football of his career and potentially set up a second act in the NFL. Rudolph is still young by quarterback standards and could parlay his stellar performance in 2023 into multiple years as a high-end backup quarterback.
Steelers' Mason Rudolph Has Faced Steep Odds During His Career
The real question is if Rudolph wants to reach for the brass ring and become a starter. That opportunity only exists in Pittsburgh at this point for him. Rudolph should go into this decision with his eyes wide open. Theoretically, he is on even footing with Pickett in any competition. The reality is that his head coach has all but announced that the former first-round draft pick is the starter heading into training camp. It will be an uphill battle to unseat Pickett. A direction Rudolph has been traveling his whole career.
What do you think, Steeler Nation? Is Khan planning a surprise move at quarterback, or is Tomlin intent on ensuring Pickett is the starter on opening day? Please comment below or on my Twitter/X: @thebubbasq.
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