The Pittsburgh Steelers found themselves embroiled in a quarterback controversy they definitely did not envision rolling into the 2023 season. When the 2023 season started, Kenny Pickett was going into his second professional year and optimism was at an all-time high after an outstanding preseason performance. But then that came crashing down. It doesn’t matter if it was because the team kept Offensive Coordinator Matt Canada for far too long, or because Pickett is not capable of being the quarterback fans hoped he would be; the results were the same. The Steelers once again failed to win a playoff game.
As if all of that wasn’t enough, longtime Steelers backup, Mason Rudolph, who’s been considered the height of mediocrity for years, balled out the regular season’s final three games. While they may not have won a playoff game, Rudolph is a big part of why the team even saw one. Now the Steelers have to decide what to do at quarterback in 2024. Will they stick with Pickett? Pay Rudolph to stay? Look for a veteran free agent? Or draft a quarterback and cross their fingers?
Recently, longtime Steelers reporter, Gerry Dulac, who writes for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, said that he doesn’t believe the Steelers will see an outside veteran regardless of how many names have been bounced about. He added that he anticipates they will find a way to bring Rudolph back and will likely stick with Pickett. This has NBC Sports’ Peter King absolutely beside himself.
Steelers Would Be Crazy Not To Bring In A Veteran Per King
The Steelers have been linked to a multitude of veteran quarterbacks that include everyone from Russell Wilson to Kirk Cousins, but the name that has been floated the most is Justin Fields. The Chicago Bears, through an incredible trade with the Carolina Panthers, find themselves picking first in the 2024 NFL Draft and are widely expected to take Caleb Williams.
Dulac said that he doesn’t see Fields going to any team where he isn’t going to be the starting quarterback walking in the door. The Steelers have made it clear that they will be hosting a quarterback competition, allowing Pickett to compete for the job.
This has King absolutely baffled. He wrote in his column for NBC Sports, “10 Things I Think I Think” that he doesn’t understand why the Steelers would pass up on this opportunity.
“I think, longtime beat man on the team, Gerry Dulac reported the other day that the Steelers ‘are not interested in bringing in a quarterback who wants to be a starter.’ Come again? In a division with Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson, and Deshaun Watson, the Steelers would actually choose to enter camp with Kenny Pickett and Mason Rudolph (should he sign in free agency with Pittsburgh)? That sounds like a colossal misjudgment of your quarterback position,” wrote King.
The Steelers have a lot of needs this offseason – cornerback, defensive end, center, to name just a few, so it is easy to see both sides of the argument. If they have a serviceable quarterback that can game manage, is that enough? But that begs the question if the team does have a quarterback that can be competitive.
While Rudolph was able to do far more than Pickett had been able to, most agree that he doesn’t have what it takes to lead the team to a Super Bowl. What seems clear is that Rudolph established himself as a strong backup, something he hadn’t proven himself to be despite his long tenure on the team.
That leaves Pickett, who also didn’t prove himself, but there are more questions with him. Pickett is only entering his third season and most quarterback experts have said it can sometimes take up to three seasons for a quarterback to fully develop. There is also the issue of Canada and how poorly he ran the offense. Will Pickett be able to turn it around under Arthur Smith?
The 33d Team recently ranked Pickett as one of the worst quarterbacks in the NFL. During his first two seasons, he played in 25 games and threw a matching set of touchdowns and interceptions at 13 each. He averaged just 179 yards per game.
Fans who want Pickett to be “him” note that he did improve in protecting the ball his second season and threw zero interceptions during his last eight games, but he also wasn’t throwing enough touchdowns. Pickett did show potential to help the team recover and win with late-game comebacks, but you can’t rely on that every time. He has to be able to manage all four quarters.
The team would have to shell out some money and draft capital to bring in Fields. It is hard to imagine the Steelers doing that. The team would have to also take on the remainder of Fields’ rookie contract and consider picking up his $22 million fifth-year option.
