The Pittsburgh Steelers will have a thrilling quarterback competition to keep an eye on when the team opens up training camp in just two days on July 26th in Latrobe. If you weren't aware of that by now, you may be living under a rock. The Steelers battle will likely come down to veteran free agent signee, QB Mitch Trubisky and first-round pick QB Kenny Pickett. And right now it looks like this battle starts with Trubisky, first.
Pittsburgh Steelers Quarterbacks participate in Organized Team Activities (OTAs) Thursday May 26, 2022 at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. (Abigail Dean/Pittsburgh Steelers)
However, the incumbent in the situation, QB Mason Rudolph seems to be the odd man out. It's not due to poor reasoning, though. His play has spoken for itself, especially when he had ample opportunity in the 2019 season to prove he belonged in the conversation to be Ben Roethlisberger's heir apparent. Rudolph very well could find himself on another team when the final roster is set before the start of the season. I, personally, don’t think Rudolph will be on the roster come time for the regular season kickoff, especially if the team can gain draft capital by moving him.
Steelers' QB Mason Rudolph makes a throw in OTA's. (Karl Roser/Pittsburgh Steelers)
In a recent article published by The Athletic, writer Mark Kaboly discussed several Steelers who could benefit the most from training camp. Rudolph was listed at number 5 on the list.
"Make no mistake about it: Rudolph could boost his career with a strong training camp," Kaboly stated in his article. "It’s unlikely that the beneficiary would be the Steelers.Rudolph may ultimately have the best camp of the top three quarterbacks, but what is the best-case scenario if that happens? Maybe a starting/backup job for a year (only if the Steelers are hellbent on not playing Kenny Pickett this year). It is hard to imagine a scenario where Rudolph will be with the Steelers in 2023, and seriously, why would he be?
Rudolph is entering the final year of his contract and will hit free agency in March. Why would he choose to come back to the Steelers when Pickett was a first-round pick? The best case scenario for everybody involved would be a good camp by Rudolph that would result in a trade and a potential fifth-round pick."
PITTSBURGH, PA - AUGUST 25: Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph (2) looks on during the preseason NFL game between the Tennessee Titans and Pittsburgh Steelers on August 25, 2018 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh PA. (Photo by Mark Alberti/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
If Rudolph is able to have a strong showing during the training camp and preseason process, the organization could in fact be beneficiaries in the situation, just not by playing Rudolph. This is pure speculation, but maybe a team like the San Francisco 49ers could be interested in trading for a guy like Rudolph, if they ultimately decide to cut ties with Jimmy Garoppolo.
Rudolph's departure from the franchise is inevitable, right? So, why should the team keep him around any longer than they need to? The only way Rudolph is donning black and gold in 2022 is if the team is fearful of another unforeseen challenge like the Steelers dealt with in the 2019 season.
What do yinz think? Could Rudolph boost his career with a strong showing in Latrobe starting July 26th? Sound off in the comment section below, or on Facebook, Twitter, and/or Instagram!
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