Since the Pittsburgh Steelers, there have been many different opinions regarding the team’s quarterback situation.Different analysts came up with four different QBs as answers to the assignment.Mike Tomlin claimed the team’s QB is already on the roster during his season-ending press conference..
Diontae Johnson backed up, bringing back Mason Rudolph.Now controversial former Steelers player Antonio Brown has weighed in on his old team’s quarterback situation.Brown invited Twitter users to “Ask AB.” One user asked him who his QB would be and how many carries George Pickens would get per game if he were the offensive coordinator of the Steelers.Brown chose Rudolph and said his QB will throw to Pickens at least 16 times per game..
While Rudolph had a good performance to end the 2023 regular season, making him the starting quarterback next season could be a problem for the Steelers.The Steelers’ ProblemWhen the Steelers decided to stick with Rudolph as their QB through the 2023 season, they had an easy way to explain how that didn’t mean they were giving up on Kenny Pickett.They just grabbed it with a warm hand..
If the Steelers re-signed Rudolph and made him the starter for Week 1 of the 2024 season, they would lose their investment in Pickett.That would be a tough pill to swallow just two seasons after the team spent their 20th overall pick on a struggling QB.This would also be limited turn gear..
Yes, Rudolph won the last three games of the regular season to make the playoffs, but the team was already on its way to making the playoffs before Pickett’s injury.He posted a 7-5 record as a starter before an injury opened the door for Rudolph.A 10-7 first-round exit from the playoffs wasn’t really an improvement over what the team got from Pickett.This is also probably the roof for them with Rudolph.Should the team decide to make a veteran move that they believe could get them into the playoffs, giving up Pickett could be something the front office and fans can live with..
Another season of nine or ten wins and an early playoff exit doesn’t seem like enough.If the options are to give Pickett another chance to prove he can lead a team, it seems the better option is to hope Pickett either succeeds or does poorly enough for the Steelers to draft his replacement.Adding PickensOne thing Brown got right is that the Steelers need to bring in Pickens more often.Four goals in a quarter is asking a bit much, but he definitely needs to see more of the ball.In the 2023 season, Pickens was hit just 106 times in 17 games. That’s just over six targets per game and is shockingly low for a player who had 1,140 receiving yards on the year..
That’s more of a problem with the Steelers system than a problem with the team’s QB play. Jet QBs were terrible in 2023. Garrett Wilson was still targeted 168 times.Fans have complained endlessly about how Arthur Smith misused his weapons with the Falcons. Drake London still got 110 carries from a disappointing pair of QBs in 16 games.Pickens has made it clear he can be a bona fide WR1 in 2023.Whoever becomes the Steelers’ next offensive coordinator needs to use Pickens as an elite option in 2024 as their offense improves..
John Vaccaro covers the NFL for Heavy.com, focusing on the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens. He previously covered the NFL, NBA, MMA and college sports as a reporter and writer for BroBible and FanSided. Contact John Vaccaro onfor more information.
