Could Browns Face-Off With New QB In AFC North Next Season?

The AFC North could have a new starting quarterback in 2024 as the Browns biggest rival in embracing an open competition at the most important position in football

Change is inevitable this time of year in the NFL. And it appears the Browns biggest rival is open to some key changes of their own.

Addressing the media on Thursday after being eliminated from the playoffs by Buffalo on Wild Card Weekend, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin reinstated 2022 first-round pick, Kenny Pickett as the team's top QB, but added a caveat. Tomlin made it clear Pickett will have to compete to keep the job throughout the offseason. 

"There's always competition in this thing," Tomin said "We don't anoint anyone. I'm appreciative of his efforts and where he is and excited about continuing to work with him. But certainly, he will be challenged from a competition perspective. Moving forward. competition brings the best out in all of us."

Mike Tomlin on Kenny Pickett pic.twitter.com/XpjinJHMIY

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It is worth noting that Tomlin was also asked whether or not the starting QB was already on the roster, to which he answered "yes," indicating the job could either belong to Pickett or Mason Rudolph. Rudolph took the reigns from backup Mitch Trubisky in Week 16 and led the Steelers on a three game win streak to ultimately clinch a playoff berth. In Monday's Wild Card loss to the Bills, Rudolph threw for 229 yards, two touchdowns and an interception while completing just 54-percent of his passes.

Still, his efforts seemed to breathe some life into the offense down the stretch of the season, so much so that even when Pickett recovered from an ankle injury, Rudolph held onto the starting role.

Of course there's always an outside possibility Pittsburgh looks outside the organization for a starting QB as well, despite Tomlin saying he thinks a starter is already on the roster.

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Speaking of looking outside the organization, Tomlin also made it known that he'll be looking at outside candidates to fill their offensive coordinator position.

"I'm looking at outside candidates and lining up a pecking order there," Tomlin admitted. "I am appreciative of their efforts in terms of what they did for us down the stretch, but I'm looking at outside candidates at this juncture."

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Tomlin fired Matt Canada following a week 11 loss to the Browns and passed the baton to running back's coach Eddie Faulkner on an interim basis. Pittsburgh has long looked to internal options to fill assistant coaching roles in the past like Canada and Randy Fichtner before him. An external hire would certainly be a shift in philosophy by the organization.