What if? Please don’t sue me Marvel.
Let’s say Mason Rudolph wins against the Ravens on Saturday and the Steelers are propelled into the playoffs and win a game or two in the playoffs.
He’d be the first quarterback in seven years to win a playoff game in Pittsburgh.
So, what happens to Rudolph?
Does he automatically become the starting quarterback in 2024, if he resigns with the Steelers? Will there be a competition with Kenny Pickett?
Will the Steelers offer him enough money to stay? Could he get a starting job somewhere else?
Rudolph becomes an unrestricted free agent after the season. The Steelers would likely want to keep him in Pittsburgh, but it’s not known how much they’d be willing to pay, if they’d give me a chance at becoming the starter or if he’d even want to stay after he’s been put through the ringer in his six seasons in Pittsburgh.
Pro Football Focus’ Steve Palazzolo tells the PM Team says he would take Kenny Pickett over Rudolph in 2024, unless he goes on a Super Bowl run, and even then, he’s not sure.
“Just because Nick Foles won a Super Bowl in 2017, that did not project future greatness for him,” said Palazzolo. “He went on a two-game run where the baseline of previous performance that was far stronger than the two-game run.
If Rudolph goes on a six-game run, I don’t know if that’s enough.”
A lot of what ifs regardless of what happens, but if Rudolph continues to do well, it will be a lot more complicated for the Steelers.