The Pittsburgh Steelers are a team that many people will be keeping an eye on this offseason. Their quarterback situation is a very intriguing one after Pittsburgh stuck with Mason Rudolph at the end of the 2023 season despite Kenny Pickett being available.
Rudolph oversaw the team’s run to the postseason, going 3-0 as a starter to finish out the regular season at 10-7. While the Steelers lost to the Buffalo Bills 31-17 during Super Wild Card Weekend, the strong finish by Rudolph raised some eyebrows.
Is Pittsburgh better off going in a different direction, not having Pickett as their starter anymore? The Steelers rode the hot hand at the end of the season, but no set-in-stone franchise quarterback would get sat on the bench when healthy enough to play.
NFL NEWS & RUMORS: Michael Penix Jr., Kenny Pickett, 2024 NFL Draft, Pittsburgh Steelers Updates
That has raised some questions about what Mike Tomlin and his staff will do. Will Pickett be the unquestioned starter or will he face some competition? A.J. Schulte of Pro Football Network believes it will be the latter.
In a recent mock draft, Schulte has predicted the Steelers will select a quarterback early in the draft. In the second round, No. 51 overall, Pittsburgh lands Michael Penix Jr. out of Washington to add a different dynamic to the team’s quarterback room.
“Michael Penix Jr.‘s draft stock varies from scout to scout, but I kept running out of reasons for him not landing with the Steelers. Penix adds a different element to the Steelers’ quarterback room with his downfield ability and pocket management,” wrote Schute.
Schute isn’t the first person to mock Penix to the Steelers this offseason and he likely won’t be the last. While Pickett enters Year 3 of his NFL career, people are not sold on him as Pittsburgh’s franchise quarterback and believe that a change could be in order.
NFL NEWS & RUMORS: Michael Penix Jr., Kenny Pickett, 2024 NFL Draft, Pittsburgh Steelers Updates
This is an offense whose lack of production was blamed on offensive coordinator Matt Canada. His game plans and play calling were certainly suspect, but things didn’t improve greatly after his firing whether it was Pickett, Rudolph or Mitchell Trubisky under center.
This is an offense that should be having much more success. There is a lot of talent at the skill positions with wide receivers George Pickens and Diontae Johnson, tight end Pat Freiermuth and running backs Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren.
Just average quarterback performance, which didn’t occur outside of Rudolph’s games as the starter, would have elevated this unit to another level. With an improving offensive line, all the Steelers are missing is a quarterback to have this offense clicking at a high level.
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