The Pittsburgh Steelers are one of the few teams in the NFL with some sort of a "competition" at quarterback. While most may say it is starting to not even look like a competition with Mitch Trubisky leading the way and having the utmost confidence from head coach, Mike Tomlin and the rest of the 90-man roster, many are also starting to become restless with rookie QB Kenny Pickett still receiving third-team reps behind experienced backup, Mason Rudolph.
This was the talk of minicamp and OTA’s, and continues to be the main topic of training camp so far.
People want to see Pickett get a fair opportunity to compete for the starting job, and are frustrated to see Rudolph still getting opportunities within the Steelers system. Rudolph has had his fair share of opportunities to prove he can be the guy for the Steelers, especially the 2019 season in which Ben Roethlisberger was injured for almost the entire season. Rudolph would struggle and end up sharing starting time with now retired QB Duck Hodges.
PITTSBURGH, PA - SEPTEMBER 30: Mason Rudolph #2 of the Pittsburgh Steelers lines up under center in the first half during the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Heinz Field on September 30, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)
The Steelers Clear Plan With Their QB Situation
It was reported about a month ago by Steelers insider Gerry Dulac that the Steelers intentions look somewhat clear: that they will start Trubisky Week 1 and Pickett will be the backup. He continues:
"NFL teams don’t draft quarterbacks No. 1 to have them be the third quarterback and a gameday scratch. I expect Kenny Pickett to be the guy who dresses on game-day [as the primary backup]."
Mitch Trubisky starting Week 1 is now the assumption that most Steelers fans have. But, it is more of a question of what is going on with the backup spot.
It has been clear, at least to me, on what the Steelers are trying to do with their QB situation: Let Rudolph show he has improved since 2019 (which he objectively has) by giving him second team reps for some of camp and potentially 1-2 preseason games. Once the time comes to where the team needs to get Pickett the reps and competition he deserves, move Rudolph to a QB-needy team. If no interest develops or Rudolph shows the same issues he has shown, part ways.
Dulac thinks the Steelers will treat Rudolph with a little more respect, though.
"Because he’s a five-year veteran, I think they will treat Mason Rudolph with a little bit more respect than to keep him around as the third quarterback and a gameday scratch. I think they will probably try to move him, trade him, get something for him," Dulac said.
The idea of trading Rudolph or ultimately having a deadline to part ways with him seems even more apparent with the Steelers selection of QB Chris Oladokun in the seventh round of this past draft. It is very rare for a team to have four QBs on a 53-man roster spot, and the Steelers cannot move on from a rookie QB that was just taken in this past year's draft. The third QB usually is a healthy scratch on game-days and gets practice reps with third-team players and the practice squad.
PITTSBURGH, PA - MAY 24: Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Chris Oladokun (5) throws the ball during the team's OTA practice, Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Pittsburgh, PA. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
In a piece with ESPN, Steelers reporter Brooke Pryor also hinted at a potential Rudolph trade.
It seems that Rudolph is the odd man out, and it is more of a "when" instead of an "if" on the possibility of Rudolph being moved or even let go.
What do you think, #SteelerNation? Could you see this being a way the quarterback situation turns out? Do you still believe Mason Rudolph has a chance for the starting QB spot, or do you think the Steelers could be using his training camp success to eventually trade him? Let me know in the comments or @anthonyravasio on Twitter.
