Since before free agency ever kicked off, many of us in Steelers media were wondering what Pittsburgh would do about the lofty cap number of backup quarterback Mitch Trubisky in 2023. The backup quarterback was set to have a substantial cap hit of over $10.6 million for the upcoming season, per Over the Cap, and we felt this figure was far too high.
Omar Khan and Mike Tomlin made it clear that cutting Trubisky wasn't something that was on the table, and they talked about how they are excited for him to be part of the future plan as Kenny Pickett's backup in Pittsburgh. Now it appears we have our answer when it comes to what they will do.
On Thursday, Steelers GM Omar Khan appeared on the Pat McAfee Show to discuss his style when it comes to contract negotiations. When McAfee asked what he's got going on today, Khan was extremely transparent. He said that they are finishing up a contract extension with Trubisky.
BREAKING: "We're finishing up an extension with Mitch Trubisky and that will be done here shortly" ~ Omar Khan#PMSLive #HereWeGo pic.twitter.com/UVxo2bmYgu
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) May 18, 2023
This is something that we have speculated could get done in an effort to reduce his significant 2023 cap number. While we don't have the full details on Trubisky's extension or whether or not it will include any voidable years tacked on, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network confirms that it's a two-year extension for Trubisky. Specific contract numbers have yet to be released.
What a Mitch Trubisky contract extension means for the Steelers
Mitch Trubisky seemed frustrated last year when he lost his job at halftime of Pittsburgh's Week 4 game against the New York Jets, and apparently, a verbal altercation took place between him and receiver Diontae Johnson. However, the veteran quarterback knows that his place at this point is as a backup to Kenny Pickett, and he's apparently willing to accept that (as evidenced by his pending contract extension).
It can now be assumed that Trubisky will be the primary backup quarterback to Pickett in Pittsburgh through at least the 2024 season (and possibly longer). Though the former second-overall pick from 2017 has had a pedestrian career as a starter, you could do far worse as far as backups go.
The quarterback position is undeniably the most important in football, and the Steelers recognized that they need to keep an insurance policy around in the event that Pickett goes down with an injury. During his rookie year, Pickett was in concussion protocol twice, which caused him to miss some time.
The decision to sign Mason Rudolph just recently apparently didn't have any bearing on the status of Trubisky. We will have more details when on this extension soon and we are interested to see what the contract looks like, but now we know that Mitch Trubisky will remain a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers for the foreseeable future.