Just a little over four months ago, the local and national media were debating whether the Pittsburgh Steelers would re-sign QB Mason Rudolph to compete for the starting job against Kenny Pickett. He showed glimpses of promise—particularly at the end of his rookie season in 2022—but Pickett largely struggled with just 13 total touchdown passes and 4,474 passing yards in 24 starts over two years.
That prompted the Steelers to sign Russell Wilson at the start of free agency and started a chain of events that resulted in Pickett being traded to the Philadelphia Eagles and Justin Fields being acquired in a trade with the Chicago Bears.