Starkey: Steelers' Treatment Of Mason Rudolph Not As Brutal As It's Been Made Out To Be

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been accused of giving quarterback Mason Rudolph a rough ride since he arrived in 2018. The organization's treatment of the Oklahoma State product, in which former General Manager Kevin Colbert had a first-round grade, has been brought up in many conversations regarding whether or not the pending unrestricted free agent will return to Pittsburgh. Popular columnist and radio host, Joe Starkey recently wrote that Rudolph hasn't gotten the raw deal in the Steel City that everyone seems to think he has.

Pittsburgh traded up in the 2018 NFL Draft to land Rudolph with the 76th overall pick. In his rookie season, he rode the bench and was inactive for all 16 games behind an aging Ben Roethlisberger, along with the team's 2017 fourth-round selection, Josh Dobbs. Rudolph was thrust into the starting role in 2019 after Roethlisberger suffered a season-ending injury in Week 2.

He didn't get another true shot at being the team's starting quarterback position until the 2023 season. With Kenny Pickett injured and Mitch Trubisky struggling to do much of anything but turn the ball over, Tomlin finally handed the keys back to Rudolph. He ran with the opportunity and helped carry the Steelers to the playoffs, orchestrating wins over the Cincinnati Bengals, Seattle Seahawks, and Baltimore Ravens. 

Starkey argued that the treatment of Rudolph in Pittsburgh shouldn't looked at as harsh. While Head Coach Mike Tomlin wasn't effusive in his praise for Rudolph during his short stint as the starting quarterback in 2023, he did admit to having more confidence in him after his four games to end the season.

"I would argue that Rudolph has been the victim of bad luck more than bad treatment since he arrived in Pittsburgh," Starkey wrote. "He has made $10 million here. He hasn’t always gotten the benefit of the doubt, but that’s life as a professional athlete on the fringe — whether it’s here or anywhere else."  

Starkey admitted that it probably took a game too long for Tomlin to make the switch from Trubisky in 2023 and that Rudolph was likely never given a fair shake in the Pickett, Trubisky battle for the starting job in 2022. It's still not all that unfair in treatment. He outlined that there are not enough reps in training camp to truly have three quarterbacks compete. 

If Rudolph didn't understand that after being in the league for four years, Starkey wrote that he should have just packed his things then and "quit football on account of sheer stupidity right then and there." He didn't do that. He collected his $3 million and rode the bench, helping Pickett and Trubisky the best he could. 

If he thought he'd been abused in Pittsburgh, would he have even come back, Starkey mused. When it seemed like he was going to be in line for a career change, the Steelers threw him a bone to stay in the league. That was nice of them, Starkey argued. He continued that with Pickett healthy, Tomlin easily could have gone back to the first-round quarterback, but decided to stay with the hot hand.  

Back in 2019, Rudolph suffered in the most infamous moment of his career during the fourth quarter of a Week 11 loss to the Cleveland Browns. Browns' defensive end Myles Garrett hit Rudolph in the head with his own helmet after, according to Garrett, Rudolph called him a racial slur. Tomlin came out with a statement, vehemently defending Rudolph after Garrett doubled down on his explanation almost a year after it happened.  

Rudolph was benched for Devlin "Duck" Hodges after throwing four interceptions against the Browns and starting the next week against the Bengals with only eight completions on 16 attempts and a pick. Tomlin went back to Rudolph with the season on the line against the New York Jets in Week 16, but he suffered a brutal shoulder injury.

Steelers' Rudolph Should Be Back In Pittsburgh

Starkey said that Rudolph could draw some interest from other teams in the NFL in this go-round of free agency after his performance down the stretch in 2023. The Denver Broncos were a rumored landing spot by former NFL General Manager Doug Whaley.

Starkey argued that unless another team blows the doors off Rudolph and his agent with an offer of financial significance and a promising chance to play, returning to Pittsburgh should be his first choice. 

In Starkey's estimation, Pickett is on thin ice as a starter, and Tomlin hasn't been afraid to move off his first-round quarterback in the past due to bad performance. This gives Rudolph a window to seize the starting role again, assuming the team doesn't bring in another veteran.  

Do you agree with Starkey that Rudolph hasn't gotten a raw deal in Pittsburgh? Comment below! 

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