2023 NFL quarterback analysis: Pittsburgh Steelers
Current starter: Kenny Pickett | Current backups: Mitch Trubisky, Mason Rudolph
State of the position: Pickett, the first QB taken in the 2022 NFL Draft, proved Pittsburgh right for drafting him with the 20th overall pick.
The only QB selected in the first round in 2022 helped turn around the Steelers' season from 2-6 to 9-8. He also became the first rookie in NFL history to throw a winning touchdown pass in the final minute of the fourth quarter in back-to-back games.
Trubisky signed a two-year deal with Pittsburgh before the start of this season. He started the first four games of 2022, but he lost his job to Pickett after starting 1-3. Trubisky played in three other games due to two concussions Pickett suffered and finished with 1,252 passing yards, four touchdowns and five interceptions.
Rudolph did not play a snap. He had a shot to start in Week 15, but the Steelers stuck with Trubisky in Pickett's absence.
Key stat: Pickett threw eight interceptions in his first five games, but he had just one the rest of the season.
2023 QB forecast: Pickett did enough in his rookie year to be the unquestioned starter heading into 2023. Pittsburgh can build around him while he's on a rookie contract.
The key question heading into next season is who will back up Pickett. Trubisky is under contract for one more year, but some believe he should be cut to save $8 million in cap space.
Rudolph, a pending free agent, will likely look for a fresh start elsewhere. So, the Steelers could add a veteran quarterback to help Pickett's development. Maybe a reunion with Josh Dobbs, a Titans free agent, could be in order. He played sparingly for the Steelers in 2018 and 2020.
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