Mason Rudolph, Steelers
For the record, I don’t believe that Mason Rudolph should be a starting quarterback in this league — never did, in fact. The more he plays, the more I believe that narrative. However, that doesn’t mean that the Steelers will completely exclude him from competing for the job in 2022.
While I’m confident Pittsburgh at least knows well enough that he’s not a long term solution, I won’t be surprised if he ends up starting at least part of a season for this team next year, thanks to his experience in the system and familiarity with the playbook over the past four seasons.
This, of course, seems like a desperation option if the free-agent quarterbacks go for more money than the Steelers are willing to pay or if they can’t secure the guy they like in the 2022 NFL Draft.
While he hasn’t been impressive, Rudolph has at least proved competent enough to help his team to a record above .500 when called upon, and perhaps the team believes in him enough to give him one more shot next to start early in the 2022 season. I would not be a fan of this option, but he’s the only QB under contract for the Steelers, and it can’t be disregarded.
The Pittsburgh Steelers need to find a long-term option at the quarterback position after Ben Roethlisberger, but I have a feeling they will go with a veteran to give themselves a chance in the present as they continue their search for their next franchise quarterback.