5 Steelers that will be starters by this time next season

Steelers Mason Rudolph

Everyone’s favorite quarterback, Mason Rudolph is likely set for his final season as the Steelers backup at quarterback. With Ben Roethlisberger likely playing his final season in 2021 and with his recent contract extension, Rudolph is the favorite to be the starter a year from now. Unless the team adds a capable veteran or an early-round pick on a quarterback though, that isn’t likely to change.

At best, the Steelers will add a veteran to push Rudolph during free agency. For those expecting an early-round quarterback, don’t be surprised if they forgo that in the first round of the draft. Unless the team really tanks this year, they will likely be picking in the teens at worst. While this year saw a slew of quarterbacks fall, that was more due to their being five first-round talents at the position. This isn’t a position that typically falls, so the Steelers would have to aggressively move up to get their guy.

Now don’t be mistaken, just because Rudolph will be penciled in to start next season doesn’t mean he is the future franchise quarterback. Instead, he will likely serve as the transitional quarterback for a few years until the team can find their next option in the draft. To be fair to him as well, Rudolph has shown continual development as a player each year. He deserves a shot to be the guy for the team. It’s a win-win scenario for the Steelers, as Rudolph would either play well enough to be the guy or would be bad enough for the team to land an early pick for a quarterback.

Each year starters come and go in the NFL. While these five players are backups heading into 2021, they have the capabilities to make the leap to starter by this time next season. The Steelers will continue to develop their own into starters, and that next wave of new starters should start with this pool of players.