Mason Rudolph would have had a good chance to take over at quarterback for the Steelers after Ben Roethlisberger, but here’s why he could miss that window.
There is an astonishing number of fans who are in favor of Mason Rudolph taking over as the Steelers “franchise” quarterback in 2022. Despite grading out as one of the worst quarterbacks in football over his tenure, lacking statistical production, and leading Pittsburgh to just a 5-4 record as a starter, this is something that a particular group would love to see happen.
Under different circumstances, they might have been able to get their wish. Though Rudolph is the only Steelers quarterback signed through the 2022 season, this certainly doesn’t mean that he’s going to be the answer for ‘the future.’ In fact, I would strongly bet against this.
This isn’t to say that the Steelers don’t like Rudolph or that the organization doesn’t want to give him a chance to compete for the job. Rather, the timing just wasn’t quite right and the window didn’t line up in his favor.
Why Rudolph missed his window with the Steelers
The best thing that could have happened for Mason Rudolph would have been if Ben Roethlisberger retired in 2019 after suffering a severe elbow surgery. Though there’s no guarantee the Steelers wouldn’t have drafted a quarterback the following offseason, he probably would have been given more opportunity to prove himself as the next man up.
Instead, Pittsburgh has already missed out on the valuable rookie contract for the quarterback. Instead of having 4 cheap years, Rudolph is already on his second contract, he could demand much more in 2023 if he becomes the starter for the team next year.
The Seattle Seahawks are a great example of how valuable the years on a quarterback’s rookie contract really are. The team was able to build a terrific roster around Russell Wilson with the money they were saving at the quarterback position.
In addition, Rudolph will be 27 years old before the start of the 2022 season. This is a pretty late start for a player that many expect to “develop” into the next franchise quarterback. Half of his career will be over at this point.
What Steelers are likely to do at QB after Ben
I’m not denying that there’s a decent chance Mason Rudolph could be the team’s starter in 2022 when Roethlisberger is gone, but that certainly doesn’t mean he will be around for the long haul. The Steelers are likely to go in a different direction at the quarterback position.
Rudolph doesn’t have a lot of tools to work with. He’s got an average arm for NFL standards and his velocity is notably lacking at times. The former Oklahoma State quarterback is just generally accurate and doesn’t offer anything special as a passer. His worst traits, however, are his severe lack of mobility and ability to extend the play – something we just haven’t seen him do in four years.
Instead of trying to fit a square peg into a round hole and make Rudolph into something he’s not, the Steelers are likely to search for a younger, more talented quarterback in the NFL Draft (whether that be next year or in 2023). Three of the top quarterbacks in the 2022 NFL Draft are just 20 years old – meaning they could be around for much longer than Rudolph and Pittsburgh would have the advantage of paying them on rookie deals for their first four years (plus a potential fifth-year option).
Mason Rudolph served his purpose with the team and became a serviceable backup quarterback for the Steelers. Unfortunately for him, he came to Pittsburgh just a few years too early to have a legitimate shot as his window with the team just doesn’t line up great.