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Steelers QB Named Top Free Agent

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph is one of the best free agents at his position this offseason.

Stephen Thompson

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PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers likely won't be the only team interested in signing free agent quarterback Mason Rudolph, a former Steelers draft pick who excelled as a spot starter during their late-season push into the playoffs. 

In a free agency primer written by The Athletic's Randy Mueller, Rudolph is listed as the sixth-best free agent quarterback of this offseason, setting up a likely battle this spring and summer for the Steelers if they want to keep him in Pittsburgh. 

There are few, if any, superstar quarterbacks looking for a new contract this offseason, which helps Rudolph. The only players ranked ahead of him are Kirk Cousins, Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, Tyrod Taylor and Ryan Tannehill, in that order. To that end, picking the right 

“Just like evaluating QBs in the draft, I would split this group into two categories: players who could be starters, and players with backup skills. The challenge is trying to sort through players who are surrounded by gray area, whether because of injury, underperformance or something else," Mueller wrote. "Can we trust Kirk Cousins at age 36 coming off a torn Achilles? Sam Darnold has shown potential in flashes — is there still something there? Are there others who could perform better in different circumstances, like Baker Mayfield did last year? Pick one out that you’re willing to bet on."

The Steelers said at the outset of the offseason that they are interested in retaining Rudolph to compete with 2022 first-round pick, Kenny Pickett, but they'll likely have to beat out some other suitors from around the league to keep a player that was one of the biggest surprises in the NFL last season. 

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Stephen Thompson
STEPHEN THOMPSON

Stephen Thompson graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications and political science from Pitt in April 2022 after spending four years as a sports writer and editor at The Pitt News, the University of Pittsburgh's independent, student-run newspaper. He primarily worked the Pitt men's basketball beat, and filled in on coverage of football, volleyball, softball, gymnastics and lacrosse, in addition to other sports as needed. His work at The Pitt News has won awards from the Pennsylvania News Media Association and Associated College Press. During the spring and summer of 2021, Stephen interned for Pittsburgh Sports Now, covering baseball in western Pennsylvania. Hailing from Washington D.C., family ties have cultivated a love of Boston's professional teams and Pitt athletics, and a fascination with sports in general. 

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