Steelers GM offers QB Rudolph vote of confidence

PITTSBURGH — With the retirement of Ben Roethlisberger, the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback job is formally up for grabs.

On Monday, outgoing normal supervisor Kevin Colbert gave former backup Mason Rudolph a vote of confidence.

“If we began a season right this moment, Mason could be our starter, and we’re excited to see the place that may go,” Colbert mentioned in his annual availability with native media previous to the NFL Mix. “Mason’s 5-4-1 as an NFL starter, albeit in a backup sort of position, however we’re excited to see what’s subsequent for Mason.”

Rudolph began one recreation for the Steelers in 2021, an Eleventh-hour choice after Roethlisberger examined optimistic for COVID-19 a day earlier than the Week 9 recreation towards the Detroit Lions. Rudolph accomplished 30 of fifty makes an attempt for 242 yards with one landing and one interception in a recreation that completed in a tie. In 2019, Rudolph began eight video games after Roethlisberger’s season-ending elbow damage. It was a tumultuous season for the then-second-year quarterback, and he completed finishing 62 p.c of his makes an attempt with 13 touchdowns and 9 interceptions.

However the Steelers invested in Rudolph’s growth, hiring Matt Canada as quarterbacks coach for the next season. And after Canada was promoted to offensive coordinator in 2021, the group introduced in revered quarterbacks coach Mike Sullivan to work with the group.

“I’m comfy that Mason has gained extra video games than he’s misplaced as a starter,” Colbert mentioned. “The place that may go, we’ll see. To be an NFL starter that you may win with, you gotta show it over 16 video games. I’m anxious to see that, if that’s the case.”

Rudolph, who’s coming into his fifth yr with the group, is the one quarterback on the roster at the moment beneath contract for the 2022 season, however Colbert added that he expects the group will tender former first-round decide Dwayne Haskins, who spent most of 2021 because the scout group quarterback.

“We’re excited to see what Dwayne can present both from competitors, or perhaps he evolves as a starter,” Colbert mentioned.

However the Steelers aren’t stopping there.

“We all know we’re going so as to add to the place,” Colbert mentioned. “I can’t let you know how, however at this level we are going to go to camp with 4.”

With two quarterback spots seemingly up for grabs, Colbert, Artwork Rooney II and Mike Tomlin have mentioned each potential avenue for including to the group. The group may choose a quarterback with their No. 20 total decide, or they might discover free company and the commerce market.

“The draft class of quarterbacks, there’s good high quality out there — in all probability not as many as there have been in recent times, however it’s what it’s,” Colbert mentioned.

The Steelers bought take a look at a few of these prospects on the Senior Bowl, together with Liberty’s Malik Willis and North Carolina’s Sam Howell. Colbert has additionally saved a watch on Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett, having a entrance row seat to his Heisman-finalist season from the services the Steelers and Pitt share.

“This group, there’s good gamers in it,” Colbert mentioned. “And there’s good gamers that every one have a unique talent set. That’s what was actually distinctive about watching them compete on the Senior Bowl as a result of the vast majority of them had been there, they usually’re all totally different. I do know a few of them shall be beginning quarterbacks, successful quarterbacks, and that’s thrilling.”

Colbert’s — and the group’s — prime precedence this offseason is discovering a post-Roethlisberger plan at quarterback, however the Steelers even have to interchange Colbert. The longtime normal supervisor is stepping apart after April’s NFL Draft. Colbert advised Tomlin and Rooney II that 2021 was going to be his final season as normal supervisor in Could 2021, however he could keep across the group in one other position, he mentioned.

“It’s time, I feel from a private standpoint and I feel it’s time from an expert standpoint,” Colbert mentioned. “We at all times need to be open to new methods to do issues and extra present methods to do issues, fairly truthfully. And I encourage our youthful scouts to push me in that regard, however the higher resolution could also be outdoors the group. We don’t know, however I simply assume from a private facet, for certain, it’s time, however even from an expert facet, we have now to be open to making an attempt to remain forward of the sport.”

To search out his alternative, Colbert is interviewing candidates together with Rooney II. The primary spherical of interviews shall be carried out by early March, with the second spherical anticipated to be accomplished after the NFL Draft. Tomlin is concerned within the course of now, however Colbert mentioned the pinnacle coach could have an excellent better position in figuring out the subsequent normal supervisor after the draft.

To this point, the Steelers have interviewed seven exterior candidates for the place together with two inner potentialities in Omar Khan and Brandon Hunt.