Steelers Fan Poll Reveals Thirst For New Blood At QB And These 3 Names Are Best Options To Quench It

The Pittsburgh Steelers are incredibly one win against the Baltimore Ravens away from a possible playoff berth. The Steelers will need some help from the Miami Dolphins or the Tennessee Titans in the most likely scenario they get it in. The Steelers were once 6-3, but slid to 7-7 with some of the worst losses in the Mike Tomlin era. Even more stunning is that Tomlin turned to Mason Rudolph out of desperation, and he delivered.

Rudolph has led the Steelers offense to back-to-back explosions against the Cincinnati Bengals and Seattle Seahawks. He has breathed life into a dormant unit by standing tall in the pocket and delivering catchable passes to George Pickens, who has rewarded his faith. Rudolph has thrown for 567 yards and two touchdowns since he has been inserted into the lineup. Pickens is responsible for 326 of those yards and both touchdowns. It is a potent combination that, paired with a dominant running game, has the Steelers on the cusp of the AFC playoffs.

Steeler Nation is overjoyed that Rudolph is succeeding, but they are not necessarily sold on him as the long-term solution. The PM Team w/Poni & Mueller welcomed back Andrew Fillipponi from vacation on Thursday. Fillipponi, who staunchly defended Kenny Pickett at one point, has warmed to the idea of Rudolph as the Steelers' signal-caller. Chris Mueller, who has been very critical of Pickett, shared with his newly returned co-host that he had posted a poll on X regarding the future of the Pittsburgh quarterback position.

Without hearing the results, Fillipponi thought someone else would be the most popular choice. Mueller instead revealed that with 2,427 total votes, Pickett had prevailed by 1/10 of one percent over an unknown quarterback. Rudolph surprisingly finished a distant third in the polling. This raises the question of who fans want to see sign-in as the mystery guest in the Steelers' quarterback room. 

Here are the best three options the Steelers could turn to in 2024.

Justin Fields

The Chicago Bears' starting quarterback has tremendous talent. Justin Fields is arguably a better-running quarterback than Lamar Jackson at this point and has shown real progress as a passer in the second half of the 2023 season. The Bears will have the number one pick in the 2024 NFL Draft courtesy of the Carolina Panthers and have a monumental decision to make. Do they draft a weapon like Marvin Harrison Jr. and keep Fields, or pick Caleb Williams from USC? 

Fields has a lot of upside, but the Steelers would have to commit, at a minimum, to picking up his fifth-year option to keep him for at least two seasons. It would sound the death knell on Pickett's career in black and gold. Rudolph would be a solid option as the backup quarterback to Fields, assuming his performance in the final three games does not price him out of the market for the Steelers.

Fields is already substantially more accomplished than Pickett at the NFL level, and the right offensive coordinator could extract Jackson-level performances from the ultra-talented, but inconsistent Fields. If Chicago wants to move on from him, Omar Khan should be on the phone. 

First Round Draft Pick

The Steelers have multiple holes to fill on the roster through the draft. A center, tackle, cornerback, and inside linebacker are pressing needs. The Steelers will likely be slotted in the early to mid-twenties in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Two short years ago, at pick 20, they selected Pickett, an older college quarterback who found success late in his college career. 

The 2024 quarterback draft is much deeper than the 2022 class. Williams and Drake Maye will be long gone by the time the Steelers pick, but some intriguing options might be available. Jayden Daniels, the Heisman Trophy winner, is probably the next best option, but the Steelers would likely have to trade up to get him. Daniels has a lot of natural talent and fits the current NFL prototype for a mobile quarterback. A trait that Tomlin desperately covets. 

Michael Penix Jr. and Bo Nix have also been mentioned as potential draft targets for the Steelers. Both are older college quarterbacks who found success later in their careers, like Pickett. Penix might fall into the second round and has a much stronger arm than Pickett. He should be available when the Steelers pick in the first round, but it would be a reach. Any move for a quarterback in the draft would also signal that they see Pickett as the long-term backup and bridge starter. It is also likely to force Rudolph to sign elsewhere. 

Russell Wilson

This would be a desperate move, and Russell Wilson would have to agree to take a significant pay cut on a short-term deal. The Denver Broncos are on the hook to pay him over $35 million in 2024. If Wilson wants to stick it to Denver and Sean Payton, he will force them to cut him and pay him to play elsewhere. This option is highly contingent on Wilson's motivation to win and not break the bank. 

Wilson is 35 years old and has regressed as a quarterback. The Seahawks knew what they were doing when they fleeced the Broncos. Wilson has won a Super Bowl and appeared in another, but it was a decade ago. He has a 9-7 career playoff record and has won at least one playoff game in six of his eight appearances. The Steelers' ground attack would take substantial pressure off him, and Diontae Johnson, Pat Freiermuth, and Pickens would be a significant weapons upgrade. 

This move is highly contingent on Khan signing him as a discount free agent. Any trade would trigger his massive contract, and the Steelers cannot afford to overpay a quarterback in his late 30s again. Wilson's ability to perform in the postseason makes him a more attractive option than someone like Kirk Cousins, but it is a risk. If the Steelers sign him cheap, they can potentially keep Pickett and Rudolph as contingency plans in case Wilson washes out. 

Steelers Historical Struggles Evaluating Quarterback's Will Be Eye-Opening Experience For Younger Fans

The Steelers have struggled to manage the quarterback position for their entire history. That is ignoring the franchise's history of misfires at the position. There is no guarantee that investing in a first-round pick near the end of Ben Roethlisberger's Hall of Fame career would have yielded better results. Based on Kevin Colbert's atrocious draft classes since 2016, it is a better bet that it would not have worked out. 

Pittsburgh wandered in quarterback limbo between Terry Bradshaw and Roethlisberger for over 20 years. Tomlin will be entering his third year in 2024 looking for a franchise quarterback. The question is, how long is Art Rooney II going to wait for Tomlin and Khan to lead the search?

What do you think, Steeler Nation? Should Pittsburgh stick with Pickett and Rudolph, or move on to someone else in 2024, and if so, who? Please comment below or on my X: @thebubbasq. 

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