After entering the season as the third name on the depth chart, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph came out of nowhere and helped his team reach the playoffs and secure yet another winning season under head coach Mike Tomlin. Not only did he win all three of his regular season starts, but he played remarkably well while on the field. While salvaging Pittsburgh’s season, the former third-round pick completed 74.7% of his passes for 716 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions.
Mason Rudolph came crashing back to Earth against a strong Buffalo Bills defense, but the fact remains that he was responsible for the Steelers best stretch of quarterback play since Ben Roethlisberger donned the black and yellow. The Oklahoma State product timed this breakout well, as he’s about to hit free agency, and even he doesn’t know what’s next.
“I have no idea what’s going to happen..,” Rudolph said in his postgame press conference. “None of us know what’s going to happen tomorrow, much less next year.”
Mason Rudolph: “I Have No Idea” What Free Agency Will Bring
Needless to say, an impressive three-game stretch does not make Mason Rudolph a franchise quarterback. The former third-round pick has been in the NFL since 2018 and has multiple opportunities to prove himself on the football field. While there have been moments of gold, by and large, his body of work leaves something to be desired.
That being said, Mason Rudolph could earn a job as a high-end backup. Quarterback is easily the most important position in the game, and if your starter goes down, you need to have a good insurance policy in place. Despite recent rule changes favoring the quarterback position, starters still get injured all the time, and Rudolph proved that he can keep an offense afloat. There are not enough good quarterbacks to go around, and the longtime Steeler could end up with one of these teams when March rolls around.
Possible Free Agency Destinations
Tennessee Titans
Will Levis is going to enter the 2024 season as Tennessee’s starting quarterback, and the rookie showed plenty of promise during his inaugural campaign. However, he was still too inconsistent to entrench himself as a no-doubt franchise quarterback. With Ryan Tannehill likely departing in free agency, Mason Rudolph could be the perfect insurance policy in case Levis doesn’t take the Year 2 leap. A new head coach might not be as loyal to Levis as Mike Vrabel, so he could have a short leash before Rudolph takes the field.
Kansas City Chiefs
You shouldn’t need me to tell you that Patrick Mahomes is significantly better than Mason Rudolph. However, Rudolph is better than Blaine Gabbert. The Chiefs have never felt the need to invest too heavily in their backup quarterback, in large part because Travis Kelce, Tyreek Hill, and Andy Reid had the talent to make any passer look functional in this scheme. However, with Hill out of town and Kelce slowing down, the Chiefs need a backup quarterback who can actually be more than just a pitching machine. Rudolph could not bring this team to the Super Bowl, but he is good enough to keep this offense afloat should Mahomes have to miss a week or two with an injury.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Of course, it’s always possible that Mason Rudolph returns to his NFL home. The Steelers clearly like what he brings to the table, as Rudolph has now spent six seasons in the Steel City. The quarterback has usurped Mitchell Trubisky and Kenny Pickett on the depth chart and, depending on what Pittsburgh does at quarterback, could even be the Week 1 starter next year. The Steelers will add a quarterback, but they aren’t in a position to draft an elite prospect like Caleb Williams or Drake Maye. If they get someone like Michael Penix or J.J. McCarthy, Rudolph could be a bridge quarterback who keeps the seat warm until the rookie is ready.
Los Angeles Chargers
Justin Herbert missed the final four games of the Los Angeles Chargers season, and the team lost every single game without him. While Easton Stick wasn’t entirely to blame for the lack of success, it’s clear that the Chargers will be in serious trouble if Herbert misses time in 2024. Mason Rudolph is no Justin Herbert, but he is an upgrade on Stick. The AFC West should be competitive next year, and the Chargers can’t afford to let any games slip through their fingers if they want to finally dethrone the Kansas City Chiefs.
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars missed the playoffs in large part because they did not have a good backup quarterback. Trevor Lawrence suffered an ankle injury midway through the season that sidelined him for one game and left him clearly at less than 100% down the stretch. C.J. Beathard wasn’t good enough to get the job done, but Mason Rudolph might be. If injury strikes again, perhaps the Jaguars would be more comfortable sending Rudolph out for a few games so Lawrence can rest up and regain strength for the games that matter.
Main Photo: Kirby Lee – USA Today Sports
