Mike Tomlin Already Revealed Steelers Plan at QB

If you want know what the Steelers’ plan at quarterback is, you really do not have to look far. Just look at Mike Tomlin’s words.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are in the public eye after it was revealed on Saturday that they will not search outside the organization for a quarterback. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac broke the original story. which Steelers Now was able to verify.

Although head coach Mike Tomlin stated that Kenny Pickett will face competition for the starting quarterback position, the Steelers have openly committed to giving him another chance.

It appears that this rivalry will not extend to the signing of a player such as Russell Wilson, Justin Fields, or Kirk Cousins, who would be expected to start right away. Although the Steelers are considered one of the favorites to acquire Fields and Wilson, there are important

obstacles for each player to overcome, apart from the Steelers’ commitment to Pickett as the starting quarterback.

However, this comes as little surprise. In every public forum, the club has supported Mason Rudolph’s return; nevertheless, Tomlin’s remarks during his postseason news conference may have the greatest resonance. When asked whether the team’s starting quarterback for 2024 was still on the roster right after the team’s defeat to Buffalo, he didn’t think twice to respond.

Tomlin said, “Yes.”

That implies that it would be one of those two because Rudolph and Pickett were on the roster. Rudolph’s circumstances, however, are a little more difficult than Pickett’s, who appears to have the inside track to begin in 2024.

When free agency begins, Rudolph probably wants to explore his options and see what the league has to offer. It is unlikely that the Steelers would wait for that process to conclude before deciding on a quarterback.

If not Rudolph, then to whom does that leave? From the second tier of quarterbacks available, which includes Ryan Tannehill, Jacoby Brissett, Sam Darnold, Tyrod Taylor, Marcus Mariota, Drew Lock, Gardner Minshew, Tyler Huntley, Joe Flacco, Blaine Gabbert, Carson Wentz, and Joshua Dobbs, the Steelers will probably search for another quarterback. That kind of person would be very sensible, or they could go out and get a younger quarterback such as Mac Jones, Desmond Ridder, Sam Howell, or someone else who will be cut.

Here, it’s important that the team see Pickett as a step forward. However, what would a real advancement for Pickett and the Steelers look like? Art Rooney II, the president of the team, responded simply: points needed to start appearing on the scoreboard. There are no real indications that the offensive is progressing without it. Even if there’s no hard data on the qualities Pickett has to exhibit, the points should still accrue if he does improve.

“The first and most important step would be to score more points every week,” Rooney stated. “Just being a more efficient offensive unit, carrying over some of the ball handling and running strategies we had this year, but then add to it by netting further touchdowns.

The Steelers will keep an eye on the situation surrounding the team’s unsatisfied quarterback position during the 2024 offseason. More than anything, though, Pickett’s progress will continue to be the key focus for the team’s future.

PITTSBURGH — Former Pitt Panthers safety Damar Hamlin has endless respect for Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin and he made sure the world knew that. He was asked what Tomlin would have to do to ever win an NFL Coach of the Year award and Hamlin brushed off the lack of recognition for Tomlin because he is already a legend in Pittsburgh.

“He’s been a real instrument in building Pittsburgh’s culture. He’s Coach of the Year every year, you know what I mean?” Hamlin, a Pittsburgh native who played four seasons at Pitt, said. “Just as far as what he does for the community. So we appreciate him, all the athletes, the young athletes, that grew up in the city of Pittsburgh, we got a different love for Coach T.”