Rudolph is our quarterback.

[WindyCitySteel]

No FA, trade for Fields and hire Greg Roman.

[Oviedo]

No FA, trade for Fields and hire Greg Roman.

A trade for Fields to me makes sense, especially if you can get him for a 3rd or 4th Rd pick

[Northern_Blitz]

A trade for Fields to me makes sense, especially if you can get him for a 3rd or 4th Rd pick

I know Chicago is a dumpster fire...but I worry about a guy who has 10 wins in 3 years (37 starts).

If we did bring him in, I'm with Windy that we need an OC who is going to specifically design an offense around his strengths.

[WindyCitySteel]

A trade for Fields to me makes sense, especially if you can get him for a 3rd or 4th Rd pick

Have to get Roman, too. Look at these numbers:

2013 Kaepernick: 58.4%, 3197 yards, 21 TD, 8 INT, 91.8 passer rating, 67.3 PFF grade, 524 rushing yards, 4 TD
2015 Tyrod Taylor: 63.7%, 3035 yards, 20 TD, 6 INT, 99.4 passer rating, 77.0 PFF grade, 568 rushing yards, 4 TD
2019 Lamar Jackson: 66.1%, 3127 yards, 36 TD, 6 INT, 113.3 passer rating, 91.1 PFF grade, 1206 rushing yards, 7 TD

The disparity in passer rating and PFF grades for Tyrod and Kaep point to a great scheme. Lamar had a great scheme, too, and next level talent. Fields is closer to Lamar than Tyrod talent-wise.

[flippy]

I guess I just don't believe that he'll get that much money.

Here's a list of some UFA QBs:

1. Cousins
2. Tannehill
3. Brissett
4. Taylor
5. Mariota
6. Darnold
7. Winston
8. Lock
9. Mayfield
10. Minshew
11. Bridgewater
12. Huntley
13. Flacco
14. Browning
15. Rudolph

Are there 8-10 names on this list that you'd put higher than Mason? I don't think Mason's couple good games (hopefully 3 after today) are going to see his salary jump $20M+. Of the lower end guys, I would think teams would prefer Minshew and Browning at least (longer track record). Maybe Flacco if they are looking for a vet as the QB2.

When we signed Mitch, it was for two years and $14.5M (with incentives up to $27M). That's ~ $8M to $13.5M per year.

My guess is that Mason gets something kind of like that (maybe adjusted for cap inflation from 2 seasons ago).

I get that he's our guy right now (endowment bias) and that he is the first competent looking QB we've seen in years. But my guess is that the league won't see him much differently than Mitch when he was coming from Buffalo.

I don't think anyone is going to sign Mason to be their outright starter.

And I think that if you're looking to be a QB2 or in competition for QB1, Pittsburgh is a good place to be. Especially when the HC (unlikely to change) has already picked him over the guy he'd be competing against.

Other than Cousins, everyone else on your list has shown they can’t cut it as a starter.

MR if he wins and keeps the momentum, someone could believe the switch flipped for him and he’s still young and could be a solid QB1 for years to come.

I’m not a MR believer by any means. But it just takes one NFL team to believe and I suspect several teams in need of a QB might take a chance.

I think $25 is high but wouldn’t be surprised if he ended up with $15.

[T.Ferguson]

I guess I just don't believe that he'll get that much money.

Here's a list of some UFA QBs:

1. Cousins
2. Tannehill
3. Brissett
4. Taylor
5. Mariota
6. Darnold
7. Winston
8. Lock
9. Mayfield
10. Minshew
11. Bridgewater
12. Huntley
13. Flacco
14. Browning
15. Rudolph

Bridgewater is retiring, Tannehill will be 36 next season, Flacco is almost 40, I think some of these other guys will just stay with their teams, there is definitely going to be some openings. MR as a backup next season would be good, have him compete for a starting position would be fine but I don't see him re-signing in Pittsburgh tbh. Especially with how the team has treated him.

[flippy]

Bridgewater is retiring, Tannehill will be 36 next season, Flacco is almost 40, I think some of these other guys will just stay with their teams, there is definitely going to be some openings. MR as a backup next season would be good, have him compete for a starting position would be fine but I don't see him re-signing in Pittsburgh tbh. Especially with how the team has treated him.

MR seems genuinely thankful toward Tomlin and Omar for giving him another chance.

I think he may lean into staying in Pittsburgh.

The question is who will he be? Another Charlie Batch or does he have aspirations of being Neil O?

[T.Ferguson]

MR seems genuinely thankful toward Tomlin and Omar for giving him another chance.

I think he may lean into staying in Pittsburgh.

The question is who will he be? Another Charlie Batch or does he have aspirations of being Neil O?

Idk I think it's likely he's playing for a contract on another team right now but if the Steelers were to have a deep playoff run or even 1 playoff win maybe that changes.

[Northern_Blitz]

Other than Cousins, everyone else on your list has shown they can?t cut it as a starter.

MR if he wins and keeps the momentum, someone could believe the switch flipped for him and he?s still young and could be a solid QB1 for years to come.

I?m not a MR believer by any means. But it just takes one NFL team to believe and I suspect several teams in need of a QB might take a chance.

I think $25 is high but wouldn?t be surprised if he ended up with $15.

I agree that there isn't much between the options other than Cousins.

That's why I think no one pays too much for any of them.

But you never know. It just takes one team.

[Northern_Blitz]

Bridgewater is retiring, Tannehill will be 36 next season, Flacco is almost 40, I think some of these other guys will just stay with their teams, there is definitely going to be some openings. MR as a backup next season would be good, have him compete for a starting position would be fine but I don't see him re-signing in Pittsburgh tbh. Especially with how the team has treated him.

I think I said this to Cap too...I think it mostly depends on (1) what the communication was with Mason the offseason when we drafted Kenny and signed Mitch, (2) his confidence on beating out presumptive starters on other teams (he has already beaten out Kenny once), and (3) us being willing to pay a bit more to keep him here.

Maybe he's pissed at us for how he was handled. And maybe he's grateful we brought him back to be the 3rd so he wasn't out of the league. Probably he's both. Better to stay in a place where you've have success, or go somewhere else?

Probably comes down to money. And my guess is that we'll have the highest regard for Mason in the UFA market (again).

[T.Ferguson]

I think I said this to Cap too...I think it mostly depends on (1) what the communication was with Mason the offseason when we drafted Kenny and signed Mitch, (2) his confidence on beating out presumptive starters on other teams (he has already beaten out Kenny once), and (3) us being willing to pay a bit more to keep him here.

Maybe he's pissed at us for how he was handled. And maybe he's grateful we brought him back to be the 3rd so he wasn't out of the league. Probably he's both. Better to stay in a place where you've have success, or go somewhere else?

Probably comes down to money. And my guess is that we'll have the highest regard for Mason in the UFA market (again).

I think it's also too early to really predict as this season isn't over yet. But as of now if I had to bet I'd wager he won't be on the team next season I think it would also be really risk signing him to a big contract given his success so far has been two games and he's almost 30 years old. But again, season isn't over, it's kind of a weird situation.

[Oviedo]

I agree that there isn't much between the options other than Cousins.

That's why I think no one pays too much for any of them.

But you never know. It just takes one team.

I always liked Minshew better than Trubisky. He has been better for a colts team with less talent than Pickett has been for us

[Northern_Blitz]

I always liked Minshew better than Trubisky. He has been better for a colts team with less talent than Pickett has been for us

I think Minshew is the guy I'd like to bring in if we don't bring Mason back. Maybe even if we do have the option to bring Mason back.

[Joel Buchsbaum]

I guess I just don't believe that he'll get that much money.

Here's a list of some UFA QBs:

1. Cousins
2. Tannehill
3. Brissett
4. Taylor
5. Mariota
6. Darnold
7. Winston
8. Lock
9. Mayfield
10. Minshew
11. Bridgewater
12. Huntley
13. Flacco
14. Browning
15. Rudolph

Are there 8-10 names on this list that you'd put higher than Mason? I don't think Mason's couple good games (hopefully 3 after today) are going to see his salary jump $20M+. Of the lower end guys, I would think teams would prefer Minshew and Browning at least (longer track record). Maybe Flacco if they are looking for a vet as the QB2.

When we signed Mitch, it was for two years and $14.5M (with incentives up to $27M). That's ~ $8M to $13.5M per year.

My guess is that Mason gets something kind of like that (maybe adjusted for cap inflation from 2 seasons ago).

I get that he's our guy right now (endowment bias) and that he is the first competent looking QB we've seen in years. But my guess is that the league won't see him much differently than Mitch when he was coming from Buffalo.

I don't think anyone is going to sign Mason to be their outright starter.

And I think that if you're looking to be a QB2 or in competition for QB1, Pittsburgh is a good place to be. Especially when the HC (unlikely to change) has already picked him over the guy he'd be competing against.

Well, there are 12 QB's I can name that are better plus at least five to be drafted in 2024 Qbs. This leaves 15 teams that need a qb or have a very young one on his rookie deal. But how many of those teams are better than us to be the quarter back #1? Ah, that is an entirely different question. I think we have a better collection of skill players ( Wr's, Rb's and Te's ) than teams on that list.

Most of those names are over 33 or on the 2nd or third team already. And they stated oh about 20 + games so we know who they are.. for the most part. As such Rudolph likely rates high in that list , but his chances to make 20+ million a year are low .

[Joel Buchsbaum]

Rudolph is now 8-4-1 as the starter and won 3 games in a row. He played in tough conditions today and was money in the TD throw. He is our QB for the 2024 season.