Insider says Steelers will start Mitchell Trubisky, part ways with Mason Rudolph

By just about every account on the subject, the Pittsburgh Steelers would start free agent acquisition Mitchell Trubisky at quarterback over career backup Mason Rudolph and first-round draft selection Kenny Pickett if they had to play a game today. It was even reported on Monday that "Trubisky was the most consistent (during organized team activities and mandatory minicamp) and Pickett has an uphill battle to unseat him from that top spot" this summer. 

There's yet another indication that Trubisky has essentially already won a competition that won't officially get underway until training camp in late July. 

According to Spencer Schultz of Steeler Nation, Steelers insider Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette spoke with 105.7 The Fan out of Baltimore on Monday about the Steelers quarterback room. 

"I think the plan is, and I don’t think there is any question about this unless something would dictate otherwise including injury, I think Mitch Trubisky will go into the regular season as the starter," Dulac explained. "NFL teams don’t draft quarterbacks No. 1 to have them be the third quarterback and a gameday scratch. I expect Kenny Pickett to be the guy who dresses on gameday [as the primary backup]." 

Dulac added that the Steelers relegating Rudolph to a third-string option seems unlikely. 

"Because he’s a five-year veteran, I think they will treat Mason Rudolph with a little bit more respect than to keep him around as the third quarterback and a gameday scratch," Dulac said. "I think they will probably try to move him, trade him, get something for him." 

It's been presumed since March that Pittsburgh signed Trubisky to start over Rudolph, and Pickett doesn't seem to be close to leapfrogging Trubisky on the depth chart. Thus far in his career, Rudolph has appeared in 17 regular season games and completed 61.5% of his throws for 2,366 yards with 16 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.