The biggest question the Pittsburgh Steelers must answer this offseason is at quarterback. If Aaron Rodgers doesn’t return to Pittsburgh, Mason Rudolph and Will Howard are the only two quarterbacks under contract.
The Steelers might not seek to make him the starter, but Rudolph’s backup job has felt relatively safe. However, to former Steeler James Harrison, it might not be a good idea to let Rudolph comfortably have that role.
“I’d rather trade for one of these other cats, and see, and have a competition before I go and just let him sit there comfortably,” Harrison said Monday on his Deebo & Joe podcast. “And look what he did when he came in, threw the pick immediately. ‘Oh, they ain’t throwing no picks, let me show ya’ll how to do this’.”
At this point in his career, you know what you’re getting with Mason Rudolph. Against the right opponent with a good game plan, he certainly can execute the offense. He stepped in against Cincinnati last year with Rodgers injured, and completed 12 of 16 passes, including a touchdown pass, in a comfortable win. The following week against Chicago, he started and led a few touchdown drives.
However, his limitations are clear as well. He’s not a player who’s going to elevate an offense without talent around him. At the end of the game against Chicago, Rudolph had a chance for a game-winning drive, but a penalty called back a nice run he had, which got them into field-goal position. He couldn’t extend that drive afterwards, and threw an incomplete pass on fourth down on the next drive after getting another chance to tie that game.
Against Buffalo, he came in for a short stint with Rodgers injured. He promptly threw this interception, which Harrison references.
There is reason to believe Mason Rudolph could have to fight for a roster spot this year. If Rodgers comes back, that’s one spot filled. And Howard may have the chance to become the backup, if the Steelers really do want to groom him as the future after Rodgers is gone. If the Steelers use any of their 12 draft picks on a quarterback, that only makes it harder for Rudolph.
Rudolph brings stability as a backup, which is valued in the NFL. However, part of the reason he was back in Pittsburgh was due to Mike Tomlin’s trust in him. To Mike McCarthy, he’s much more unknown. And while McCarthy has gone out of his way to praise both Rodgers and Howard this offseason, he hasn’t said nearly as much about Rudolph.
He’s still one of the better backups in the league. And it’s never a bad thing to have someone like Mason Rudolph in your building. But to Harrison, his roster spot shouldn’t be entirely secure yet.
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