Is There A Perfect Solution For The Steelers’ Quarterback Room In 2023?

Mason Rudolph is set to be a free agent and it’s impossible to believe he would want to end up back with the Steelers having only been active for one game all season. He is going to test the free agency waters and in all likelihood find himself elsewhere in 2023. That leaves just two quarterbacks on the roster and one of the first moves made prior to roster bonuses being due in March should be to move on from Trubisky.

The veteran was exactly what most expected him to be and while he provides some value due to his experience, it’s not worth the $10.6 million cap hit. Cutting him before June 1st would save the franchise $8 million. If he would agree to a different deal that keeps him in Pittsburgh, but doesn’t pose as much of a cap casualty, it’s certainly worth it to entertain bringing him back because he knows the system. With that said, there are a plethora of veteran signal-callers who are going to be free agents that would cost much less.

The Steelers’ front office should absolutely go after either Jacoby Brissett or Case Keenum. Neither is expecting to be a starter in this league, but both have played on several teams and under some great offensive minds. Keenum’s contract was only worth $3.5 million for the Buffalo Bills this season and Brissett only had a base salary of $1.5 million even though he started the majority of the games for the Cleveland Browns due to Deshaun Watson‘s suspension.

Mark Madden of TribLIVE recently wrote that Trubisky and Pickett combined would only count about $13.8 million against the cap so it’s worth it to retain the veteran on his current deal. When put this way, it makes sense, but he’s no different than a Brissett or Keenum and if one of them can be signed for a cheaper amount while also having better or like veteran prowess, it’s a no brainer to cut Trubisky loose and bring someone else in.

The other piece to this puzzle is the third-string quarterback. Former Steelers’ quarterback and super genius Joshua Dobbs got a chance to showcase his skills the final two weeks of the regular season with the Tennessee Titans and may not be open to not being active on Sundays in 2023, but his familiarity with the organization and brain paired with either Brissett or Keenum would be an awesome room for Pickett to be around.

Trubisky was a great sport and the ultimate professional about being benched and seems like a genuine dude. That doesn’t change the fact that his cap hit could be salvaged and used elsewhere as the team looks to potentially re-sign cornerback, Cameron Sutton and maybe even extend linebacker, Alex Highsmith. There are plenty of other needs and a stacked free agency class. The NFL is a business first and it would be wise to convince Trubisky to take a pay cut or seek veteran help elsewhere while also attempting to bring back a familiar face who could boost the IQ of the room.