Steelers Want Competition Between Kenny Pickett, Mason Rudolph

The Pittsburgh Steelers believe their starting quarterback for 2024 is on their roster.

PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers will head into the offseason with questions at quarterback, but as they begin scouting for the NFL Draft and preparing to negotiate with players in free agency, they have a soft plan at how they'll hand the position next season. 

Head coach Mike Tomlin took the podium for the last time this season and spoke on the biggest issues regarding the Steelers - their quarterback and their offensive coordinator. And as they prepare for next season and competition in OTAs and training camp, he believes his current quarterback room holds their starter in 2024. 

"[Pickett] will, but there will be competition," Tomlin said on Pickett returning as the starter. "There’s obviously always competition in this thing. We don’t anoint anyone. Man, 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."

Even with Pickett being viewed as a potential QB1, Tomlin confirmed that the organization hopes Mason Rudolph is the player to compete with Pickett this upcoming summer. 

"It is," Tomlin said on the hopes of re-signing Rudolph. "But he is a free agent, and it is free agency, and so we’ll see where that leads us."

Over the last four games of the season, Rudolph went 3-1 and led the team to the postseason despite small odds they'd be there following a three-game losing streak from Weeks 13-15. During that time, he threw for 719 yards and three touchdowns, and conducted an offense that scored 30 points in back-to-back wins for the first time since 2020. 

"I don’t think any of us can deny what we’ve seen over the last month or so," Tomlin said. "I cannot underscore how impressive it is to be ready. Forget performance man, to be ready to deliver. And he was, and that preparedness showed. So certainly we are less speculative about his capabilities because there’s evidence of it."

Entering his third year, Tomlin acknowledged Pickett has a "huge year" ahead of him. That being said, the head coach is excited to see how he responds and believes he has the tools to take a tangible step forward - while competing with Rudolph for the starting job. 

"Certainly, it's a big year for him. We met this morning and we acknowledged that it is a huge year for him," Tomlin said. "But I'm also excited about just watching him wear that component of it, because I know how he's wired and built, and I'm excited about watching him attack it."

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