NFL insiders Tom Pelissero, Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo recently hashed out the quarterback situations for a slew of NFL teams on NFL.com, and proposed an intriguing addition that could take place in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ QB room under new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith.
Smith comes aboard after Pittsburgh relieved Matt Canada from his play-calling duties in the middle of the 2023 season — another in which the Steeler offense failed to meet expectations. But Smith himself was also fired after this past season as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons. However, prior to his time there, he served as a very effective offensive coordinator in Tennessee.
His Titan offenses were well-known for their ability to run the football, especially with a war tank like Derrick Henry back there. But it was Tennessee’s passing game led by QB Ryan Tannehill that was also very effective and a large reason for the team’s success on that side of the football.
Well, according to the three NFL insiders, there could be a reunion between Tannehill and Smith potentially in the works in Pittsburgh. In the assessment of the Steelers’ QBs, their report added that a change is going to come, in some capacity.
“After two years of Kenny Pickett, Mitchell Trubisky and Mason Rudolph in the quarterback room together, expect significant changes at the position in Pittsburgh,” says the report, which was posted to NFL.com.
“With new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, the expectation is Pittsburgh will explore adding free agent Ryan Tannehill, who had his best years with the Titans while Smith was the OC there,” the report added.
Tannehill certainly provides a veteran presence and a reliable arm — even if he’s not the level of the AFC’s elites, such as Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, Josh Allen and so on. But Tannehill or not, expect some sort of new development under center for the Steelers, per the NFL.com report.
“Trubisky is under contract for two more seasons, but he has no guaranteed money left on his deal and has a $1 million roster bonus due March 15, so he could be released soon,” it added. “Rudolph, who will be a free agent next month, has indicated he’s interested in a fresh start after six seasons with the team that drafted him in the third round in 2018.”
Despite the expected changes within the backups, these guys still feel like Pickett will take snaps as QB1 throughout the offseason.
“Pickett, who sat behind Rudolph late in the season and into the playoffs after recovering from a high ankle sprain, will enter the offseason as QB1 again.”
More must-reads: