Steelers QB Mason Rudolph: 'I think I can be the guy' to replace Ben Roethlisberger

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin offered an expected update Tuesday when he said the team was "proceeding" as if veteran quarterback and likely future Hall of Famer Ben Roethlisberger will retire coming off this past Sunday's playoff loss at the Kansas City Chiefs. Assuming Roethlisberger rides off into the sunset, that leaves unproven backup Mason Rudolph and 2019 first-round draft pick Dwayne Haskins as the next men up on the depth chart. 

Tomlin remarked Tuesday "all options are on the table" regarding the position, but both Rudolph and Haskins have made it clear they want their opportunities to become the club's next QB1. 

"All I want is a chance to compete and be the guy here," Rudolph remarked, per Teresa Varley of the Steelers' website. "That seems like it's more of a possibility now than ever. It's very exciting and I am looking forward to the opportunity.

"I am a competitive person and I have a lot of confidence in myself. I think I can be the guy next year and that's my plan. I want to be the guy. My goal is to look forward to when we come back here and control what I can control. I know that I am going to compete." 

Rudolph, 26, has made 17 total NFL regular-season appearances and 10 starts, and he's completed 236-of-384 passes (61.5%) for 2,366 yards, 16 touchdowns and 11 interceptions across those outings. 

"I understand what I put on tape up until this point there are still question marks on my game," Rudolph added during his comments. "I want to prove those people wrong. I want to prove myself to my teammates and the guys I really care about. It's one day at a time. I am excited."

Meanwhile, Haskins flamed out with the Washington Football Team after less than two full NFL seasons before Pittsburgh took a flier on him last winter, and he said that Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert told him he'll have "a chance to compete" and "a chance to start." 

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Sunday the Steelers likely won't go big-game hunting for a quarterback this winter and, instead, will have Rudolph and Haskins battle over the gig later this year.