The quarterback who guided the Pittsburgh Steelers to an unexpected postseason trip is anticipated to sign a new contract.
Stephen Thompson A DAY AND A THREE
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Pittsburgh With two or three roster slots up for grabs before training camp opens, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ whole offseason will depend on how their quarterback situation plays out.
Mason Rudolph, who led the Steelers to an unexpected playoff spot as the starting quarterback and closed the season strong, is one of the quarterbacks the team is hoping to sign. ESPN’s Bill Barnwell believes the Steelers may land Rudolph as a top target.
Rudolph was listed by Barnwell in the lowest of six tiers he created, “Backups likely to earn roster spots,” on his list of free agency quarterbacks available this offseason. Mitch Trubisky, Nate Sudfeld, Josh Dobbs, Tyler Huntley, and others were in the group.
“This final tier includes players who should be able to land spots on NFL rosters but who won’t have more than a modicum of guaranteed money when they sign, meaning they’ll have to compete for their roster spot in camp,” Barnwell stated. “Of the players in this group, Dobbs and Rudolph are the most obviously productive, but when Dobbs was available in 2023, there was little interest in him. Rudolph is probably going to re-sign with the Steelers because of his brief spurt of productivity, which was inconsistent with his previous career statistics.
According to Barnwell, the average signing bonus for each quarterback in this group will be $1.5 million each season.
In the final three games of the regular season, Rudolph started all three games and completed 74.65% of his throws for 716 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions. With their three straight wins, the Steelers secured the seventh spot in the AFC playoffs.
Rudolph is seen more favorably by the Steelers than Barnwell is. Owner Art Rooney II of the team and head coach Mike Tomlin both stated that they would like to see him return as a contender for the starting position with 2022 first-round pick Kenny Pickett.
