What is Mitch Trubisky’s future with the Pittsburgh Steelers?
Following the announcement of Ben Roethlisberger’s retirement near the end of last season, it was evident that the Pittsburgh Steelers would have big shoes to fill. For the first time in eighteen seasons, the organization would be without a default franchise quarterback to lead the team.
This would lead to lots of speculation, and ultimately, the signing of free agent QB Mitchell Trubisky at the start of the league’s free agency period in March.
Trubisky, a 50-game starter in four seasons with the Chicago Bears, who spent last season as a backup to Josh Allen in Buffalo, was considered a coveted passer on the open market. Instantly, it was presumed he would take the team’s starting position – and that he did, throughout offseason workouts and training camp, including the first two of the Steelers preseason games.
Trubisky’s competition at the time of his signing included Mason Rudolph, a third-round selection in 2018 who had been the developmental project behind Roethlisberger for the previous four seasons, and Dwayne Haskins, a former first round selection of Washington who fell out of favor with the franchise, who was retained earlier in the year.
Haskins’ untimely passing left the Steelers with only two quarterbacks. There were questions abound already about whether or not the Steelers would draft a quarterback. Those questions were settled when Pittsburgh saw their next-door neighbor’s top collegiate QB prospect, Pitt’s Kenny Pickett, drop to them at pick 20 overall in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
The Steelers would also add South Dakota State’s Chris Oladokun to the mix by taking the FCS signal caller deep in the seventh round.
Suddenly, the Steelers quarterback room was full, with Trubisky, Rudolph, Pickett, and Oladokun. It was then assumed that Rudolph could be trade bait early on, with many thinking the rookie Pickett would assume the backup role immediately.
As camp started, Trubisky struggled at first as the rookie Pickett acclimated himself to the pro game. Rudolph, by all reports (including my own observations) was the sharpest of the group. Still, Trubisky’s grip on the top spot was held tight, until the first preseason home game where the Acrisure Stadium crowd was at a fever pitch to see their hometown guy, Pickett, perform.
And perform he did – as well as through the second preseason game, where he leapfrogged Rudolph to get the second crack at running the Steelers offense.
Trubisky as trade bait?
What ensued made fans believe that Rudolph could be on the trade block, as he’s done nothing wrong but may have something to offer another team willing to part with something for the privilege of his services.
However, it could be Trubisky instead, who has worked himself into those conversations.
Now, this is merely speculation based on observation, but I must wonder where Trubisky’s role fits into the Steelers plans of the future. Obviously, Pickett was drafted to the be the quarterback of the future. I had firmly believed that Mike Tomlin would sit the rookie for one season, much like Andy Reid sat Patrick Mahomes behind Alex Smith for a year in Kansas City.
Like Reid, Tomlin isn’t on a hot seat to play the new guy now, unlike some other situations that evolve all over the league, from year-to-year.
However, Pickett’s performance on Saturday evening against the Jacksonville Jaguars may have sealed the deal. He only attempted seven passes before being pulled, but was able to move the football with an ease that Trubisky couldn’t – with both playing with and against mostly starters too.
Mason Rudolph followed up in the second half with decent play, and a gutsy game-winning drive for the W.
I’m a believer in keeping all three quarterbacks, but if the phone rings for new General Manager Omar Kahn, I have to think he entertains listening to offers at the very least.
Trubisky as a backup?
Mitch is still the most accomplished the quarterbacks on the roster by a longshot.
His 50 starts in the NFL eclipse Rudolph’s 10. As noted by others, Trubisky also earned a Pro Bowl nod (as an alternate) in 2018, while managing the Bears into two postseason appearances.
There’s precedence for Tomlin to retain veteran quarterbacks as his primary backup options, going back to Charlie Batch, Byron Leftwich, Bruce Gradkowski, and Michael Vick. Batch had 46 starts with the Detroit Lions prior to arriving in Pittsburgh. Leftwich had 44 starts with the Jaguars, while Gradkowski had 20 starts for four different squads before joining the Steelers.
Vick was a bonafide veteran with 115 starting appearances and four Pro Bowl nods before finishing his career with the Black and Gold at age 36.
The concept above, combined with Trubisky’s incentive-based salary – his cap hit is lower than Rudolph’s this season, and he’ll only be owed $2.6 million if released next year – indicate that the Steelers may have viewed him as no more than a bridge QB or competition for Rudolph and Haskins, before Pickett fell in their lap.
If Pickett wins the Week 1 starting job, the question turns to, “Will Trubisky accept a backup role?”
If the answer is no, then a trade or release becomes more apparent in the coming weeks.
Trubisky as the starter?
We should also factor the stubbornness of Mike Tomlin into the plausible scenarios.
Tomlin was on record earlier in the offseason as stating he wanted a veteran quarterback this year. Trubiksy has continued to take the first crack of all reps in camp and practices, as well as in preseason games. Even if he doesn’t start the third preseason game, that’s more likely a practice of sitting starters than Mitch losing his job.
Tomlin could see something that makes him hesitant on leaning on Pickett, and its not as if Rudolph has had a major shake at winning the starting role either.
That could tip the cap in Trubisky’s favor as the Week 1 starter, regardless of what’s been seen in exhibition games thus far. His 50 starts may make the coaching staff feel more comfortable with the “safe bet” versus the unknown growing pains of Pickett coming fresh out of college.
Yet, one thing is certain: that nothing is certain and any of these scenarios could play out before the Steelers take the field on September 11th to face the Cincinnati Bengals.
