Steelers players who will not be back in Pittsburgh in 2023

A mutual parting makes sense for Steelers and Mitch Trubisky

Here’s a relationship that is bound to end sooner or later. The Pittsburgh Steelers signed Mitch Trubisky to a two-year, $14.2 million contract during the offseason only to select a quarterback in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft just months later. Spending a year behind Josh Allen and an elite offense as a stop-gap backup is one thing, but being forced to stay in Pittsburgh long-term behind a rookie quarterback is something else.

Unlike Devin Bush and Larry Ogunjobi, Trubisky is under contract by Pittsburgh for the 2023 season, so technically, he doesn’t have a choice in the matter. However, Mike Tomlin has said time and again that he doesn’t want hostages. Trubisky isn’t guaranteed to cause locker-room drama (though apparently, he did in Week 4 at halftime against the Jets), but I can’t imagine him wanting to sit behind a rookie as a 28-year-old in the prime of his career. As the former second-overall pick, there has to be some pride here.

Additionally, the Steelers will absorb a whopping $10.6 million cap hit if he’s on the roster all next year. This is pretty expensive as a backup. If they really want to, Pittsburgh can retain Mason Rudolph as a backup to Pickett for pennies on the dollar of what Trubisky is owed.

The Steelers would save $8 million by releasing Trubisky during the 2023 offseason, so this almost seems inevitable. They may do this for financial reasons alone, but it’s probably what Trubisky wants anyway.