Tim Benz: Steelers fans likely to be disappointed with team’s QB situation next season

The majority of Pittsburgh Steelers supporters desire a substantial change at quarterback. And the majority of them will end up feeling angry.

That’s what I read following a casual online survey I did on social media.

In terms of what the Steelers can accomplish at quarterback in 2024, these are essentially their four options.

1. Make a concerted effort to sign a seasoned experienced starter via free agency or trade from another team. I mentioned Kirk Cousins, Justin Fields, and Baker Mayfield as possible viable possibilities. In a different sub-post, I proposed including Russell Wilson in that mix as well.

That led the way with 38.4% of the vote.

2. Draft a quarterback in the first three rounds in April. That got 19.7% of the vote.

3. Have a legitimate, open competition between Kenny Pickett and Mason Rudolph (assuming Rudolph is retained in free agency). That finished second, getting 26.4% of the vote.

4. If Rudolph isn’t retained in free agency, have Pickett “battle” for his starting job with a new veteran quarterback who has been an NFL backup in the past. In other words, a Jacoby Brissett, Case Keenum or Josh Dobbs type or journeyman.

That option finished last with 15.5% of the vote.

I’m with the voting majority. If Cousins would come on a short deal, I’d get him. Fields probably has more upside than Pickett, and Baker has more moments of NFL success than Rudolph.

Yet, my hunch is that the Steelers would be more inclined to stay with at least one of the two birds they have in the hand, instead of one in the bush. Especially given what it may take to acquire that bird out of the bush in terms of trade assets or raw dollars.

Whether Rudolph leaves or stays, the Steelers may use a second- or third-round pick to acquire a quarterback. It would be reasonable to consider replacing Pickett in 2024 with a Day 1 or Day 2 quarterback if he performs poorly. However, that seems like a decision for 2025 just as much as it does for the upcoming year.

Eight quarterbacks are ranked as top-3 round prospects by CBS Sports. Caleb Williams of USC, Drake Maye of North Carolina, Jayden Daniels of LSU, Michael Penix of Washington, and J.J. McCarthy of Michigan are the five players whose anticipated draft positions are in the first round.

Oregon’s Bo Nix, Tulane’s Michale Pratt and South Carolina’s Spencer Rattler are Round 2 and 3 prospects. I could see one of those three guys (or Florida State’s Jordan Travis) picked by the Steelers as a developmental project behind Pickett and Rudolph this year (a potential starter in 2025) if Pickett can’t get it together. That potential draftee could also be in the mix as Pickett’s backup if Rudolph leaves.

Assume the Steelers selected a quarterback in the first round of the draft. That seems more like an attempt to bench Pickett than to provide him with competitive advantage. Considering that the Steelers just used such a high choice on Pickett two years ago, I find that to be implausible. They wouldn’t have bothered to see him through three years in this hypothetical situation. They are also desperately lacking in other draft picks at receiver, secondary, inside linebacker, and on both scrimmage lines.

Thus, I doubt that the Steelers’ front staff would look into this concept.

Frankly, the scenario that got the least amount of support is the one that is most likely to happen, in my opinion. That’s Pickett coming in as the starter with a new backup after Rudolph moves on in free agency.

After all, coach Mike Tomlin is on record from his season-ending press conference as saying he believes that his 2024 starter is on the roster right now. Pickett will be. Plus, he has also stated that Pickett is resuming his “QB1 status” this offseason.

Rudolph is now a member of the team as well, but once free agency begins, he might not be. Furthermore, Tomlin has acknowledged that, despite the team’s best efforts, keeping Rudolph is not a given.

Tomlin declared, “He is a free agent, and it is free agency.” We’ll see where that takes us, then.

More importantly, though, is where that might lead Rudolph—to Tampa, Minnesota, New England, Chicago, or Atlanta, depending on the state of affairs around those QB situations.

The fourth option is Pickett with “new journeyman TBA backup veteran,” which takes us to our point. It’s amazing that it received even 15% of the vote.

My hunch is that those who voted for that category are Pitt Panthers fans who just want to see the least amount of hurdles in Pickett’s way to success. Or they are simply Pickett truthers who are 100% convinced that fired offensive coordinator Matt Canada was the only problem, and Pickett would’ve been every bit as good with Canada gone as Rudolph was.

As unimpressive as the fourth option might sound, I’ll bet the Steelers go with it until they unexpectedly outbid someone for Rudolph or he accepts a generous local discount.

Yes, if I were Rudolph, no. Perhaps, though, he believes that competing with Pickett in Pittsburgh under a new coach is the easiest way for him to get more playing time.

The main takeaway, though, is that 58.1% of respondents desired fresh blood in the pocket in one way or another, whether it was a draft pick or a new veteran who could start.