Earlier this week the Steelers re-signed Mason Rudolph to a one-year deal. On Thursday Mitch Trubisky inked a two-year extension. Along with the starting sophomore signal caller – one Mr. Kenny Pickett – Pittsburgh may now boast the deepest QB room in the NFL.
Rudolph’s signing was the big surprise; as the only incumbent Steelers QB last year he seemed displeased with his opportunities in the preseason and more than ready for a fresh start. Trubisky was already under contract for 2023 but the terms of his new deal should mitigate his $10.6 million cap hit – admittedly a rather spicy meatball for a backup QB.
Both moves were met with predictable incredulity from some of the more ignorant constituents of Steelers Nation. Last year’s 49er’s team proved if you want to go The Distance you need not one, not two, but three guys capable of directing your offense. As it turned out that team actually needed four – apparently Zeus himself had a score to settle with the Bay Area.
Traveling back a little farther into the annals of NFL history, consider the 2018 playoffs. When Eagles QB Carson Wentz went down in Week 14 the Eagles were 10-2, headed to 11-2. That team was on its way to being one of history’s best and it all would have went off the rails…if not for Nick Foles.
Neither Rudolph nor Trubisky are “blow-you-away” guys but they have starting experience, they know the system and they insulate the team from needing meaningful reps from undrafted rookie Tanner Morgan. I don’t think any of us are interested in re-living the Duck Hodges odyssey – by the way: best of luck to him in his fledgling relationship.
Plan A is clear: give Kenny all the time and weapons he needs to develop into a franchise QB. In this multi-billion dollar industry, however, you can’t afford to not have a Plan B…or a Plan C. Rookie GM Omar Khan never would have got to be a rookie GM if he weren’t keenly aware of the violent nature of this child’s sport being played by genetically-engineered super-men.
Steely Cam 