The Pittsburgh Steelers are wrapping up the third week of training camp and heading into the first preseason game of the year against the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday. There are question marks all around the field, but the quarterback position is not only the most intriguing, but most talked about as well. Mitch Trubisky will get the start this weekend, but Mason Rudolph and Kenny Pickett will also play hoping to make their cases to be the starter. All positional groups will see fluctuation, but the signal-caller position is one that could change after just one game. Let's start with the first out of the three and what Trubisky needs to do to hold his spot.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterbacks, Mitch Trubisky (#10), Kenny Pickett (#8), and Mason Rudolph (#2) participate at 2022 training camp at the team's South Side facility. | Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
1.) Steelers Quarterback Mitch Trubisky
Increase Stock: Trubisky is already the number one quarterback on the depth chart. He hasn't been incredible throughout training camp, but has the most experience, is the biggest threat with his legs and was signed via free agency to be the starter. If he wants to keep his spot as the guy, he simply has to have a quarter of solid football against the Seahawks. No one is asking him to be perfect in his first outing as a Steeler against an opponent, but Rudolph and Pickett are right behind him. He needs to be mistake-free and consistent.
Decrease Stock: Trubisky has the most to lose here. The Steelers are bound to have an elite defense in 2022 and need a quarterback to be a facilitator who is able to lead touchdown scoring drives. A couple of bad drives from the newcomer could immediately open the door for one of the guys behind him to step in and turn heads. Trubisky's stock immediately decreases if his possessions lead to nothing and the offense gels with one of the other quarterbacks. His biggest advantage is playing with the first-team offense.
2.) Steelers Backup Mason Rudolph
Increase Stock: Rudolph has had a great camp and still has a legitimate shot to be the guy come September. He will have the opportunity to play both the second and third quarters Saturday and while it won't be with the first team, he will see the field more than any of the three quarterbacks.
A poor Trubisky performance paired with a couple of solid drives from Rudolph might turn the fantasy of him beating the odds and becoming the starter into more of a reality. Politics aren't on his side though as the Steelers signed Trubisky and drafted Pickett in the first round.
Decrease Stock: Rudolph needs to have a flawless performance to jump Trubisky. He has mainly had snaps with the second and third teams in training camp and if the offense doesn't move the ball, have success in the passing game and put points on the board, he is bound to move down on the depth chart. The odds aren't in his favor and his only chances of moving up are a bad performance from the quarterback above him and a stellar performance from Rudolph himself.
3.) Steelers Rookie Kenny Pickett
Increase Stock: The Steelers drafted Pickett in the first round for a reason. He is a guy that the organization wants to run the offense for years to come. Mike Tomlin is going to live with mistakes from him early on, but if he is sharp and leads the offense to multiple scoring drives in the fourth quarter of Saturday's game, it won't matter what unit it's against. His stock goes up right away if he has a solid fourth quarter against the Seahawks. Pickett simply needs to show leadership and the ability to command an NFL offense and he has the chance to jump up on the depth chart.
| Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Decrease Stock: The only way Pickett's stock decreases is if Rudolph really shines on Saturday night. Having a first-round draft pick on the inactive roster come the regular season is not ideal for development and Rudolph is clearly the odd man out here. A poor showing from Pickett won't even knock him out of the conservation to be the starter, let alone be the active backup on game day. If Pickett and Rudolph both play poorly, the rookie will be given much more of a pass for doing so. Pickett is bound to move up on the depth chart.
What do you think the keys are for the top three quarterbacks and their competitive battle to be on the active roster come September? Let us know in the comments below!
#SteelerNation
