Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin has been on the job for 17 seasons. During the first 15 seasons, his ability to manage quarterbacks was never questioned. It was mainly because Ben Roethlisberger, a future Hall of Fame quarterback, occupied the position. Kevin Colbert's succession plan was Mason Rudolph, but after they lost Roethlisberger for the 2019 season due to injury, he fell out of favor with Tomlin when he was forced into the lineup.
%202023%20Camp%20Final%20with%20Logos/2L9A7766-544x306.jpg "Steelers Kenny Pickett Mason Rudolph Mitch Trubisky")
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (X: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers' 2023 QB room consisted of Kenny Pickett, Mason Rudolph, and Mitch Trubisky.
Roethlisberger retired in 2021, and the Steelers immediately signed Mitch Trubisky to replace him. That plan lasted until the 2022 NFL Draft, when they selected Kenny Pickett. Tomlin benched Trubisky four games into his tenure as a starter. Pickett left five of his 25 career starts due to injury, including his last one against the Arizona Cardinals in his second game without Matt Canada. The Steelers went on a three-game losing streak with Trubisky. They ended the season with a three-game winning streak under Rudolph.
John Madden coined the phrase, "If you have two quarterbacks, you actually have none." Tomlin and Omar Khan have come under fire this offseason from the recently retired Peter King, Stephen A. Smith, and other media personalities for the seeming lack of a plan to upgrade the quarterback position. On Tuesday, Rich Eisen joined the media circus surrounding the Steelers on The Rich Eisen Show.
"I'm not caping for him, but what are you going to do," Eisen asked. "You've got Kenny Pickett in the middle of a rookie contract. If you want to know do we end up needing to pick up that fifth-year option, you play him this year and see how it goes. Your other options are let's re-sign Mason Rudolph and if the first month doesn't go well, you put Mason in there, or Mason beats him out. The last month of the Steelers season, the offense looked completely different."
The reality is after Khan's press conference in Indianapolis, this is the most likely current scenario. There is only one issue: Rudolph is not under contract, and despite reports like the one from ESPN's Bill Barnwell, there is no guarantee that he will come back to play under Tomlin on a team-friendly deal. It is at least equally likely that if another team offers a fair contract, he will depart from Pittsburgh in the hopes that his career baggage will remain with the Steelers.
Mark Humphrey / AP Photo
Steelers offensive coordinator, then with the Tennessee Titans, Arthur Smith walks off the practice field with tight end Jonnu Smith.
The other issue is that Rudolph is not an ideal fit in the new and improved Steelers offense. Arthur Smith values mobility and had his best success as a coordinator in Tennessee with Ryan Tannehill under center in 2019 and 2020. Tannehill was a phenomenal athlete paired with prime Derrick Henry, who performed brilliantly against stacked boxes with boot action passes to AJ Brown.
“Arthur Smith's coming and he is real, I understand he didn't work out in Atlanta, but he is a real deal offensive coordinator," Eisen continued. "You can get Tannehill. I understand in this day and age where you have to beat [Joe] Burrow and Lamar [Jackson] and if Deshaun Watson shows up, is Kenny Pickett the guy that's going to go into battle?”
The decision to retain Canada's assistants, such as Pat Meyer, Eddie Faulkner, and Mike Sullivan, as offensive assistants is a mild cause for concern. It is fair to ask what Smith is really changing. The addition of Tom Arth as the quarterbacks coach and Zach Azzanni as the new wide receivers coach is cause for optimism. The Steelers need a permanent solution to pair with Smith's offense. Many NFL observers, including one of Eisen's cast members, TJ Jefferson, think Russell Wilson on a one-year prove-it deal is the answer.
Ron Chenoy / USA Today Sports, via Reuters
Russell Wilson raises his arms in the air during a game as a Denver Bronco.
"You really think Russell is the guy for Pittsburgh," Eisen responded to TJ Jefferson. “He'll perform better than what we saw the last couple of years? He'll be a free agent. He could come cheaper than Kenny Pickett because he's making the money from Denver. He can give any team that wants him the ultimate new hometown discount. What does it matter? He's already generationally rich, but he's also one of the highest-paid quarterbacks this year.”
Wilson's drawbacks are his age and recent performance. Questions about his ability to work and play well with others are also a genuine concern. Bringing Wilson in despite the money that the Broncos are paying him is a risk. Signing an already past-his-prime quarterback to a one-year prove-it deal would not accomplish very much.
"Would you rather have Justin Fields, where you have got to pick up a fifth-year option and give up draft capital, or Russell Wilson where you probably have to pay him next to nothing and you don't give up anything for him," Eisen asked his panel that ultimately leaned towards Fields. "Don't you think he would put a big old jolt into the system that Steelers fans are asking for? Arthur Smith, again look up Tannehill's numbers with him. Plug Justin Fields into that role, that's what I'm saying."
Justin Fields is younger than Pickett. He has had problems with turnovers, but he played for the historically most inept team in NFL history at handling quarterbacks, the Chicago Bears. Fields is also a risk. Eisen's point is that the former Ohio State Buckeyes standout could thrive in a new system based on how Tannehill resurrected his career under Smith. Fields is an elite running quarterback and has improved as a passer.
Michael Reaves / Getty Images
Justin Fields extends a play with his legs as quarterback for the Chicago Bears.
Steelers’ Potential Trade Target Justin Fields Has Ball Security Issues That Must Be Addressed If Omar Khan Pulls The Trigger
Fields does not protect the ball like Pickett or Rudolph. It won't always be pretty if the Steelers emerge from the offseason with him at quarterback. It is hard to argue that he won't be the most exciting option. Fields would be the best athlete at the position that Smith has ever coached, and the results could be incredible.
Ultimately, Smith's offense is a good fit for Pickett and an excellent fit for Fields, leaving Rudolph with a tough decision to make. The Steelers still have time to decide, but as the team nears the beginning of free agency, Khan, Tomlin, and Art Rooney II must reach a consensus quickly. The Steelers' future at quarterback is uncertain. For those unfamiliar with the franchise history, it is the oldest Steelers tradition.
What do you think, Steeler Nation? What direction should the Steelers go in for the quarterback? Please comment below or on my Twitter/X: @thebubbasq.
