Mason Rudolph, the quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers, is still up in the air, according to ESPN’s Brooke Pryor.
It seemed as though Mason Rudolph’s departure from the Pittsburgh Steelers was inevitable, according to NFL Network insiders. However, it might not always be the case.
According to ESPN’s Brooke Pryor, Rudolph signing with a new team is most likely the more likely course of events. But she revealed, during her appearance on the OSU podcast Two on February 14, that she doesn’t believe the quarterback has decided on his 2024 free agency yet. “I think it’s kind of up in the air right now,” Pryor said to hosts Sam and Ben Hutchens. “I’m really interested to watch what the Steelers do because it seems like they want to add Mason Rudolph back, but I’m not sure how Mason would fit into Arthur Smith’s new scheme.”Given the kind of rollercoaster ride Mason has had throughout his career in Pittsburgh, where there was essentially an open quarterback competition between Pickett and Trubisky and Rudolph was supposedly supposed to be in the mix, I’m curious to see if he wants an opportunity to prove himself somewhere else.
“However, as we all know, it was essentially a sham competition—I hate to say that—as it was widely known that Trubisky, Pickett, and Rudolph would win.”
After the Steelers selected Kenny Pickett in the first round and signed Mitch Trubisky two years prior, Rudolph seemed to be forgotten. However, in Week 16, the Steelers started Rudolph in the starting lineup due to Pickett’s injury and Trubisky’s poor play. The chance was seized by the fifth-year quarterback, who helped the Steelers win three straight games and make an unlikely playoff run.
The Probability of Mason Rudolph Joining the Pittsburgh Steelers Again
A month or so remains till free agency, and there are conflicting rumors regarding Rudolph’s potential return to Pittsburgh in 2024.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac and other local writers have not stopped emphasizing how much the Steelers desire Rudolph to return. National writers, including Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, have stated that Rudolph “has indicated” that he would prefer a new start somewhere.
Pryor appeared to divide the difference herself; she is a national outlet insider for the Steelers. She made it clear that the Steelers want Rudolph back, but she also hinted that the sentiment might not be shared.
“I wouldn’t be shocked if the Steelers were to pursue Mason, and Mason turned them down because he wants to see what else is available and demonstrate his ability to play quarterback in the NFL without having to deal with Pittsburgh’s politics of trying to develop a first-round pick,” Pryor stated.
Why the Steelers want Rudolph back is a well-known fact. A quarterback is required to challenge Pickett. On February 12, the team declared Trubisky free.
Rudolph started as Pittsburgh’s starting quarterback for three games in 2023, going 74.6% completion percentage with an average of 10.1 yards per pass. Additionally, he had three touchdowns and no interceptions.
Rudolph seems to be the ideal combination. Though he is still youthful and gifted enough to pose a threat, he is mature enough to serve as Pickett’s mentor.
Although Pryor suggested that Rudolph hasn’t decided yet, she isn’t placing a bet on him coming back.
“At this point, I believe the field will win if I’m betting on Mason Rudolph’s final destination over the Steelers,” Pryor stated.
Estimating Rudolph’s Upcoming Contract
Pryor came to the conclusion that Rudolph would probably take a contract elsewhere this summer, but she also projected that the veteran signal caller would sign a deal akin to the one Dulac believed the Steelers would be willing to provide Rudolph. Rudolph’s value, according to Pryor, will range from $10–18 million for a two-year contract this summer. Pryor also projected that the contract would have a large number of incentives but little guaranteed cash.
Pryor stated, “Yes, he did demonstrate that he is a better quarterback than he was in 2019.” “[But] you don’t want to commit a ton of resources and cap to Mason Rudolph when you’re not quite sure what you’re getting there because the sample size still felt so small.” It would make sense for Rudolph to look for a new opportunity if he were to obtain a comparable contract offer elsewhere. But the real question is if another club will be able to outbid Pittsburgh for the quarterback based only on his limited 2023 experience.
Dave Holcomb is a sportswriter for Heavy.com who covers the Detroit Lions and Pittsburgh Steelers. Holcomb, who is originally from Pittsburgh, has covered professional and collegiate sports for publications like Fansided, Rotowire, and Yardbarker. Additional information on Dave Holcomb
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