Mason Rudolph, the quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers, had no idea if he would have a job during the next regular season going into the 2023 summer.
He was even thinking about switching careers.
2024 presents no such issue for Rudolph.
The only thing left to decide is who he will play for next summer.
When his contract expires, he may choose to explore free agency, or he and the Steelers may attempt to negotiate a return.
The Steelers appear to have told the quarterback that they want him to remain in Pittsburgh, though it’s unclear what they want to do at quarterback during the offseason.
Rudolph said to Ramon Foster during an interview on “The Ramon Foster Show” that Omar Khan and Mike Tomlin had expressed their want for him to return for the upcoming season.
Yes, that was enjoyable. Rudolph said of his former teammate, “I visited with Mike T and Omar both, and… it was so early, like three or four days after we played our last game, and there’s a lot neither side knows.” “When they expressed their desire for me to return, I got the impression that they meant it and that they wanted to work with me going forward. I’m glad to hear that. However, as you pointed out, there are a lot of unknowns, and January is still early, so who knows what will transpire?
Rudolph presented a strong case for himself to be awarded a new contract at the conclusion of the 2023 campaign.
A compelling argument for going back to the Steelers
Rudolph’s NFL career was not even assured to last through the 2023 offseason.
He was even thinking about switching careers.
He has no such problem this offseason.
Rudolph made sure he would be on a roster someplace the following season during the final three games of the 2023 regular season.
In Week 16, Rudolph threw for 290 yards and two scores against the Bengals. He threw for 274 yards against the Seahawks the next week.
Then, to end the regular season against the Ravens in terrible weather, he completed 90% of his throws.
In each of those contests, he guided the team to victory before his string of strong outings ended in a playoff defeat to the Bills.
The best justification for Rudolph’s return is the work he did throughout his starts for George Pickens.
Rudolph started both of Pickens’ best games of the season at quarterback. The second-year receiver caught 11 passes for 326 yards and two scores in weeks 16 and 17.
It wouldn’t be a bad thing to have a quarterback on the team who was able to develop one of your brightest young stars.
Though there are still several obstacles that could stand in the way, Rudolph has shown that the Steelers should give his return some serious thought.
Possible Barriers to a Rudolph Comeback
Rudolph would seem to be a strong fit for the Steelers’ 2024 roster given his performance at the end of the 2023 season and his prior experience with the organization, but there are a few factors that could prevent him from joining.
Rudolph barely made $1 million in 2023, which was extremely affordable given how the season concluded.
In 2024, he will receive a hefty rise.
His cost will increase because other teams will be considering him as a backup throughout the offseason.
If the Steelers are certain that Kenny Pickett is the player they want in 2024, they may elect to select a less expensive option.
The other possible roadblock was mentioned by Mark Madden
on January 22.
It might be more difficult for Pickett to succeed the next season if Rudolph returns.
Fans might demand for him to take Pickett’s job as soon as the rookie quarterback starts to struggle after he returns.
Pickett’s confidence might be damaged by that, and an even bigger issue might arise if players in the locker room agreed with the supporters.
The Steelers may allow Rudolph to go in order to protect Pickett if they are concerned about such possibilities.
They could not have room on the roster for him, which is another possible barrier.
Although there hasn’t been any information about the team’s active pursuit of a new quarterback, they may still try to move in the offseason.
Rudolph would not be on the depth chart if they signed a veteran starter, making Pickett the backup.
It appears that the team wants him back for the time being, but a lot may happen by the time free agency starts.
