Report: Steelers expected to explore adding Ryan Tannehill; Mason Rudolph ‘interested in a fresh start’
Share this post:
According to a report from NFL.com on
The piece, headlined “Assessing intriguing QB market as 2024 NFL offseason nears: Who could be headed where,” was put together by NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport, Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo.
Here’s what they said about the Steelers.
“After two years of Kenny Pickett, Mitchell Trubisky and Mason Rudolph in the quarterback room together, expect significant changes at the position in Pittsburgh.
Trubisky is under contract for two more seasons, but he has no guaranteed money left on his deal and has a $1 million roster bonus due March 15, so he could be released soon. Rudolph, who will be a free agent next month, has indicated he’s interested in a fresh start after six seasons with the team that drafted him in the third round in 2018. Pickett, who sat behind Rudolph late in the season and into the playoffs after recovering from a high ankle sprain, will enter the offseason as QB1 again, but head coach Mike Tomlin has made clear “there will be competition.”
With new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, the expectation is Pittsburgh will explore adding free agent Ryan Tannehill, who had his best years with the Titans while Smith was the OC there.”
That certainly lines up with everything we’ve been predicting here at “Breakfast With Benz.” We’ve leaned more toward suggesting Rudolph take his skills elsewhere because the team seems so intent on turning back to Pickett. But hearing that Rudolph’s thinking may be aligned with those opinions is newsworthy.
Similarly with Tannehill, advancing A+B=C thinking with the former Titans QB joining Smith in Pittsburgh isn’t exactly groundbreaking whether it’s coming from the local media or nationally. I’m not exactly wild about where Tannehill’s skills may be at age 35. He wouldn’t be my first choice for a free-agent QB as a backup if Rudolph splits. Jacoby Brissett would be. However, Tannehill wouldn’t be a bad second choice, given his background with Smith.
More sports
• Patrick Mahomes rallies the Chiefs to 2nd straight Super Bowl title over 49ers in OT
• Pirates add experience at catcher, agree to 1-year deal with Yasmani Grandal
• Mark Madden: The Penguins face a tall task to reach the playoffs, so where do they go from here?
Note, I’m saying that all from the standpoint of assuming the Steelers aren’t going to swing big and get a potential starter such as Kirk Cousins or Baker Mayfield. Cousins would get my vote. But the franchise seems invested — for better or worse — in going back to Pickett as a starter.
So, despite statements to the contrary from Art Rooney II and Mike Tomlin, I have no belief that the organization has any true desire to create competition for Pickett. I think, at best, the club is aiming to create a safety net that is as secure as possible with a high-quality second stringer rather than a true 1-B option to Pickett.
Brissett or Tannehill fit that mold. Getting Cousins, Mayfield or trading for Justin Fields strikes me as attempting to find Pickett’s replacement more so than it is attempting to create quality depth, which I believe is the front office’s preference.
This team just isn’t ready to punt on Pickett as a first-round pick, even if that leads to more actual punts on the field to start 2024.
Tomlin, Rooney II and Omar Khan are going to convince themselves that Pickett’s biggest problem was playing in Matt Canada’s offense and nothing else. They’d rather fall on that mistake of misevaluating Canada than Pickett.
Convincing themselves of that is easy. Convincing some of the fans and media of that idea has already happened for some.
Trying to convince some of the other players on offense, though? That might be the most difficult thing to do.