Steelers make a QB move you could see coming from a mile away while they attempt to reel in their big fish of NFL free agency
The Pittsburgh Steelers had only one quarterback on their roster before Thursday morning. That would be Skylar Thompson, who is a third-teamer at best. And while they still await an answer from the starter they want, they just signed a familiar face to be his backup… Mason Rudolph Returning to Pittsburgh on Two Year Deal […]
The Pittsburgh Steelers had only one quarterback on their roster before Thursday morning.
That would be Skylar Thompson, who is a third-teamer at best.
And while they still await an answer from the starter they want, they just signed a familiar face to be his backup…
Mason Rudolph Returning to Pittsburgh on Two Year Deal
A Steel City reunion: QB Mason Rudolph has agreed to a two-year, $8 million deal with $4.5 million guaranteed to return to the Steelers, sources tell me and Ian Rapoport. Rudolph mulled multiple offers, including a return to the Tennessee Titans, but was motivated to head back to Pittsburgh.
Mike Garafolo, NFL Media
The news comes as no surprise, as there was credible reporting that the two parties had a mutual interest, with the Steelers just needing warm arms, and Rudolph hitting free agency.
Back where it all started, Rudolph will serve as the Steelers' primary backup, or at least in theory, as now their top two options to start, Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson are being courted by other teams.
While the standoff between Rodgers and the Steelers continues, the brass in Pittsburgh has had Russell Wilson as their plan C, stored away in their back pocket the whole time.
Basically, if Rodgers decided not to join the Steelers, they would grin and bear it and run it back with Russ for another year. Presumptuous on their part, Russ threw a wildcard into the mix and now has multiple suitors via the New York Giants and Cleveland Browns that could drive him away from the Steelers, no matter how much he said he wanted to stay.
So Pittsburgh is basically looking at Rodgers or bust at this point, with Rudolph stepping in as a potential spot starter.
It doesn't change the fact that the Steelers have still utterly botched this QB decision. Mason Rudolph left on the best terms possible given he brought a 7-7 team back from the dead, won the final three games, and got them into the playoffs, but he is far from their long-term, or even short-term answer at starter.
