For many NFL teams, the point of free agency is improving the team and trying to win more games. But for the Pittsburgh Steelers this year, the goal should be trying to lose.
The Steelers are in “NFL purgatory.” They are never good enough to contend for a Super Bowl, but they are never bad enough to have a top pick in the draft. The reality is that the Steelers have not had a talented enough roster to win a Super Bowl since 2017.
This problem is even worse this offseason with the team struggling to find a starting quarterback. After a breakout year with the Vikings, Sam Darnold was considered as a possible option at quarterback for the Steelers, but he ultimately signed with the Seahawks.
Meanwhile, today the team signed Mason Rudolph, who was on the team from 2019 to 2023. Rudolph is obviously not the answer for the starting quarterback issue, and he will likely be a backup.
In 2023 Rudolph was the third-string QB, but his name was called after Kenny Pickett got hurt and Mitchell Trubisky underperformed. He won three straight games to end the year, but was ultimately crushed by the Bills in the playoffs.
As for a starting QB, the two leading options are 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers and 36-year-old Russell Wilson, who did not work out last year.
If the Steelers sign either one of those guys, it will seem eerily similar to the Indianapolis Colts’ situation after the retirement of Andrew Luck. In the four years following, they had four different veteran quarterbacks in four seasons, and none of them resulted in the team being legit contenders.
The reality is that to win playoff games, teams need a good quarterback. That comes through a high draft pick or getting very lucky in a later round of the draft.
A quarterback that the Steelers may be eyeing in the draft is Jaxson Dart from Ole Miss. Although he had a great combine and has potential, he likely is not the answer. The move seems similar to when they drafted Kenny Pickett with the 20th pick in 2022. Both quarterback classes were weak. Waiting until next year to draft a QB will work out better for the team.
The best long-term option for the Steelers will be to address defensive needs this year in the draft and ride the season out with Rudolph. Although fans may be disappointed, this is better than trying to squeeze out nine or ten wins with Rodgers.
If they lose this season and get a high draft pick in next year’s draft, they will be much better off.
