Mason Rudolph, Pittsburgh Steelers. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)
The Pittsburgh Steelers will have a number of new faces in their locker room come the 2023-24 campaign. But these players will not be missed in the slightest.
This isn’t to take a shot at any of these players as men — it just wasn’t a good fit. The 2022-23 Pittsburgh Steelers came up just short of a playoff spot, and while we wish there was more retribution for failing to reach that goal (looking at you, Matt Canada), there will be some turnover.
Pittsburgh’s free-agent class is headlined by cornerback Cameron Sutton, Larry Ogunjobi and more. The Steelers would prefer to bring those players back into the fold next season. Despite missing the postseason, Pittsburgh ended the season on a 7-2 stretch in their final nine games. While there’s plenty of room for improvement, some building blocks remain.
These three Steelers, however, could use a fresh start elsewhere.
Steelers who won’t be missed: Mason Rudolph
Finally, it’s over.
Mason Rudolph complained all offseason about not receiving a fair shot at the starting quarterback spot. Meanwhile, Mike Tomlin and the offensive coaching staff gave him every opportunity to prove himself over his 4+ seasons in black and gold, and he failed to do so.
Rudolph is a high-end backup quarterback at best in this league. He was never meant to be the heir-apparent to Ben Roethlisberger, despite what some reporting would suggest. Rudolph is best known for challenging Myles Garrett and the Browns, and nearly getting his head bashed in.
Rudolph was a solid third on the depth chart for most of the season, behind both Kenny Pickett and Mitchell Trubisky. He was never under serious consideration to start, in part because the Steelers already knew what they had in him.