Heading into free company, it appeared as if Mason Rudolph was in line to be the beginning quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2022, based mostly off of the feedback GM Kevin Colbert had made throughout media periods on the NFL’s Scouting Mix.
Someday into the authorized tampering interval although, Colbert proved that these phrases ought to have accurately been taken with a grain of salt because the longtime GM inked veteran quarterback Mitch Trubisky to a two-year, $14 million deal, which may attain $27 million with incentives, all however guaranteeing he’ll be the beginning quarterback this fall.
One other yr, one other impediment in the way in which of Rudolph and his quest for the beginning job, making him an apparent loser in free company, in accordance with Professional Soccer Focus’s Ben Linsey.
“All indicators had been pointing towards Rudolph getting the primary alternative to win the Steelers’ beginning quarterback job in a contest with Dwayne Haskins and a rookie taken within the 2022 NFL Draft,” Linsey writes. “That rookie should still be coming, however Pittsburgh gained’t be coming into a contest with Rudolph because the entrance runner any longer. As a substitute, it will likely be Mitchell Trubisky within the QB1 slot following the two-year, $14 million deal he agreed to on the primary day of the authorized tampering interval.
“That doesn’t imply Rudolph gained’t have a chance. The one qualifying quarterback to earn a decrease PFF grade than Trubisky from 2017 to 2020 was Sam Darnold,” Linsey added. “There’s all the time the prospect that Trubisky is a special quarterback after stepping again for a yr and dealing behind Josh Allen in Brian Daboll’s offense. But when that very same starter we noticed in Chicago comes out in coaching camp and the preseason, Rudolph may very effectively nonetheless win the job. His possibilities simply took a giant hit this week.”
Rudolph’s possibilities at beginning actually took a serious blow this week with the signing of Trubisky, however there’s an excellent probability Rudolph would be the No. 2 and can be prepared at a second’s discover to go in, ought to Trubisky falter.
In fact, there’s additionally the likelihood that the Steelers add a quarterback within the first spherical of the 2022 NFL Draft and will probably commerce Mason Rudolph for a late-round draft choose, although that’s unlikely at this cut-off date.
It’s a troublesome break for Rudolph although, who has bided his time and been as prepared as potential to go at a moments discover, even when the circumstances weren’t in his favor.
