The Steelers quarterbacks seem to be starting to settle into place along the depth chart as things progress this preseason.
Everyone knows that Ben Roethlisberger is no longer the quarterback of the Steelers. He has gone into retirement to become a full-time dad. Perhaps he will venture into a new job built around the game of football, but that is down the line.
Filling his shoes will be no easy task, no matter which quarterback starts for Pittsburgh in 2022. The competition went from Mason Rudolph’s job to lose to something that he may not even come close to. Things change fast in the NFL, and you need to adapt to that speed, or your career will be cut short.
This position battle has been the talk of the town since both Mitch Trubisky and Kenny Pickett joined the roster. They both have different attributes that many believe will translate as the reason they deserve to start over Rudolph. Many do not enjoy the type of game that Rudolph plays and that has put him in the doghouse.
The balancing act of dividing up snaps with the different depths on this roster has been a tough challenge for Mike Tomlin. He has never had to focus on the quarterback position for most of his time with Pittsburgh. He has done a nice job of keeping players balanced and seeing how each one plays in adverse conditions in training camp.
Mitch Trubisky is still the top dog for the Steelers
Mitch Trubisky is going to be the starter, at least to start the season, for the Steelers in 2022. The amount that his title sticks around for the position will depend on his play. His results will either keep the quarterback controversy at bay or become a pit of flames.
He deserves another shot and has shown some solid ability on the field in camp. Trubisky is starting to adapt to the offense and his play has picked up since then. He should be a competent starter for the black and gold until the rookie is ready to go.
Kenny Pickett is emerging as the second best quarterback right now
Kenny Pickett was the first-round pick by Pittsburgh and those players need to find a way onto the field during their rookie season. He will likely have to wait behind Trubisky and continue to work on his craft during practice. His days as the top dog in this city will have to wait until he gains the starting job from the veteran in front of him.
The coaches seem to want to take a safe approach with Pickett, and it makes sense. Rookies normally struggle in their first year in the NFL, and he might not be any different. He will get his chance to start eventually, but no one knows exactly when that will be.
Mason Rudolph could still cause some headaches for fans during gameday
Mason Rudolph is the most disliked quarterback in this group, but that might not be warranted. Fans booed him during the first preseason game in a tough look for those in attendance. The guy is still a player for your favorite team, no need to hate him for doing his job.
He seems to be the third-string guy for the Steelers heading into the season at the current state of the position. It should not shock people if he is the one dressed on gamedays, and Pickett is the one sacrificed in sweats. Rudolph has the experience and preparation process down that would probably be better off in a relief role than Pickett at this current point in time.
The Steelers are still in the middle of a quarterback competition, but it seems like these are how the players rank. Things are starting to emerge as the players continue to develop and push through the competition.