The Pittsburgh Steelers are currently in the midst of a transition to a new era and finding a future franchise quarterback. The Steelers are in this position for the first time in 18 seasons, as future first ballot Pro Football Hall of Fame QB Ben Roethlisberger announced his retirement at the end of last season. I mean, this QB battle is headlining stories all over the place!
Steelers.com
"[Kenny] Pickett is the hotter name, entering as the team’s first Day 1 QB pick since Ben Roethlisberger, not to mention with local roots and a history at Heinz Field. [Mitch] Trubisky, meanwhile, at least offers the mobility their offense lacked under center in 2021, and has the benefit of NFL experience. Mike Tomlin‘s choice for the kickoff to another brawl for the AFC North will be noteworthy.”
Notice someone was left out. The two quarterbacks that have hogged this Steelers QB discussion are free agent addition Trubisky and the Steelers first round selection, Pickett. QB Mason Rudolph has been left out of the discussion almost entirely, and I won't lie, I'm guilty of leaving him out of the discussion as well.
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)
However, it's not because we don't have just cause to leave the quarterback out of the discussion, his play has spoken for itself. I, personally, don't think Rudolph will be on the roster come time for the regular season kickoff, especially if the Steelers can gain draft capital by moving him.
In a recent article published by The Athletic, Mark Kaboly did an "Asked and Answered" type of article and he was sent the question:
"Will Mason Rudolph be on the roster on Sept. 1, and if so, where is he on the depth chart?" — Alex C.
Kaboly's response was the intriguing part:
"I think he will be on the roster. They can save $3 million and potentially get a draft choice if they trade him, but is that worth more than the peace of mind that 2019 — when they were starting Duck Hodges and trying to sign Landry Jones off an XFL team he had yet to play for — doesn’t happen again? Now, it would be worth it if you aren’t redshirting Pickett and you can get a fifth-round pick. I can see Rudolph being the No. 2 on game-day and Pickett being more of a long-term guy if Trubisky gets hurt."
Look, I get it, we don't want a replay of the 2019 season, no matter how exciting those games were to watch! However, most people feel that the Steelers drafted Pickett not only because of the familiarity with him, but because he was the "most Pro-ready" quarterback in this year's draft. So why would the team opt to give Pickett a redshirt season? I don't think they will!
Steelers QB Mason Rudolph takes a snap on Day 5 of OTA's. (Abigail Dean/Pittsburgh Steelers)
Running Rudolph with the two's is exactly that, a waste of time. The team drafted Pickett to be the heir to Roethlisberger's throne, eventually. There's just no argument for Rudolph to be the team's QB1 at all. He has had his chances to show growth and he just hasn't. He had the perfect opportunity to showcase why he could be the future in 2019 and lost the job to Hodges, then.
What do yinz think about Kaboly's comments about Rudolph being on the roster in 2022? Let us know in the comment section below, or on Facebook, Twitter, and/or Instagram!
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