Significant changes look to be on the way in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ quarterback room, with the first domino falling on Monday.
According to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, the Steelers and quarterback Mitchell Trubisky have mutually agreed to part ways. Trubisky had two years left on his contract, but he may now enter free agency and look for a new team.
Trubisky would have been due $5.25 million in 2024 and did not appear to have a realistic shot of starting for Pittsburgh, making this move inevitable. It represents a dramatic shift in fortunes for the veteran, who was brought in to contend for the starting job two years ago. He was eventually benched in favor of Kenny Pickett and never regained the position, failing to impress even while Pickett was injured.
The Steelers put a lot of faith in Trubisky and even gave him a new deal a year ago. Things rapidly changed, though, and with the Steelers looking for a new veteran to compete with Pickett, Trubisky was the odd man out.
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Steelers dismissed quarterback Mitch Trubisky after dismal two seasons as the former No. 2 overall pick.
PITTSBURGH (AP)— The Pittsburgh Steelers released quarterback Mitch Trubisky on Monday, sending the former No. 2 overall draft pick into free agency following two lackluster seasons.
Trubisky signed with the Steelers in March 2022 and was given the first opportunity to replace the retired Ben Roethlisberger. Trubisky started four games before being benched in favor of rookie Kenny Pickett. Trubisky struggled once again this season when filling in for an injured Pickett, losing starts to New England and Indianapolis before being replaced by third-stringer Mason Rudolph.
Trubisky’s release opens around $11.5 million in salary cap room over the next two seasons.
Pittsburgh also released offensive tackle Chukwuma Okorafor and punter Pressley Harvin III in what might be a series of actions to clear cap space before free agency begins.
With Trubisky’s departure, Pickett is the Steelers’ only quarterback under contract for next season. Rudolph is slated to become a free agency in March, but coach Mike Tomlin has stated that the organization is interested in bringing Rudolph, who won three games as a starter to help the Steelers to the playoffs, back to compete with Pickett during training camp.
Trubisky finished 2-5 as a starter for the Steelers, throwing eight touchdowns and ten interceptions. While he provided Pittsburgh with an athletic presence in the pocket, his dubious decision-making and poor mechanics, which plagued him earlier in his career in Chicago, pushed the Steelers to look elsewhere.
Trubisky, 29, spent four seasons with the Bears, who picked him in 2017, and a year as a backup in Buffalo before attempting to resuscitate his career with the Steelers.
Okorafor’s exit was almost guaranteed when he was benched in favor of rookie first-round choice Broderick Jones midway through the season following an outburst late in a defeat to Jacksonville. Okorafor started 59 games for the Steelers after being selected in the third round of the 2018 draft.
The 26-year-old played well at times and was signed to a three-year, $29.25 million contract in 2022.
However, when Pittsburgh selected Jones with the 14th overall choice in the 2023 draft and left tackle Dan Moore Jr. signed a rookie deal, Okorafor’s days were numbered. Okorafor stated after Pittsburgh’s season ended with a first-round playoff loss to Buffalo that he would not have signed the new contract if he did not expect to be with the team until the finish.
“If I knew that was going to be the case, I probably wouldn’t have chosen to come back here,” Okorafor remarked in January. “At this point, there’s nothing you can do about it.”
Harvin, a seventh-round pick in 2021, battled for consistency throughout his three seasons with the Steelers. He averaged 43.7 yards per punt in 47 games with Pittsburgh, but rather than bringing him back for the final year of his four-year contract, the Steelers will hunt for a new punter this offseason.
Steelers release QB Mitch Trubisky
The Mitch Trubisky experiment has concluded in Pittsburgh. The Steelers have dismissed the 2017 second-round NFL draft pick, who featured in 12 games after signing with the team as a free agent in 2022.
Trubisky, who turns 30 in August, was expected to earn $4.25 million next season. With bonuses, the cap impact would have been $7.556 million, or 3.1% of the team’s total.
Trubisky went 2-5 in his seven starts. He passed for 1,884 yards, eight touchdowns, and ten interceptions.
With the Trubisky era coming to a close, the Steelers must find a replacement to back up Kenny Pickett or take over the reigns as Pickett develops in a backup capacity.
Steelers HC Mike Tomlin is a huge supporter of Bears quarterback Justin Fields.
When the Pittsburgh Steelers return to training camp, there might be two new quarterbacks on the roster. The Steelers will have former first-round pick Kenny Pickett, but there could be two new faces competing for the starting job.
Many fans want to see Justin Fields. By all reports, Fields is available for trade from the Chicago Bears if the price is right.
According to ESPN writer Adam Schefter, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin is a huge fan of Fields, as he revealed on “The Pat McAfee Show.”
Tomlin met Fields at Ohio State’s Pro Day in 2021. Many supporters wanted Pittsburgh to take Fields if he dropped to them in the first round, but the Bears selected him at No. 11, and the Steelers chose Alabama running back Najee Harris.
Pittsburgh hired new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith to help enhance the offense, and it’s difficult to argue that Fields isn’t a good fit for what Smith wants to do.
The Steelers are considering four developmental quarterback prospects in the 2024 NFL draft.
According to recent reports, the Pittsburgh Steelers are interested in free-agent quarterback Ryan Tannehill because of his relationship with new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. If the Steelers decide to release Mitch Trubisky and Mason Rudolph signs elsewhere, there will be room on the depth chart for a rookie developmental player.
Here are four candidates for the 2024 NFL draft that the Steelers should examine. These are players who grade out in the sixth round or later, and the majority of them are UDFA candidates.
Collin Schlee, UCLA
Collin Schlee of UCLA is an NFL prospect with prototypical size, athleticism, and a strong arm. His UCLA tape isn’t particularly impressive, but he performed well enough at Kent State to win a spot in camp.
Tanner Mordecai, Wisconsin
Former Oklahoma quarterback who had a spectacular senior season at Wisconsin. He’s a savvy, confident quarterback who can make any throw. He also has great athleticism and can throw well on the move.
Emory Jones, Cincinnati
Gerry Bohanon, USF
The most raw player on the list, yet with as much potential as any. Big, strong NFL physique with a powerful arm. However, his mechanics are unrefined, and he requires extensive instruction.
Around the North: Steelers are expected to pursue quarterback Ryan Tannehill.
In other AFC North news, the Pittsburgh Steelers are anticipated to provide excellent competition for former first-round pick Kenny Pickett following an atrocious sophomore season. The Steelers are reportedly interested in Ryan Tannehill, the former quarterback of the Miami Dolphins and Tennessee Titans.
Mason Rudolph looked like the greatest quarterback in Pittsburgh last year, and there are speculations that he wants a new start away from the Steelers next season as well. If the Steelers make a run for Tannehill, it’s reasonable to assume he’ll be the starting quarterback in 2024.
The Steelers signed Arthur Smith, the recently sacked head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, as their new offensive coordinator. Tannehill and Smith, of course, collaborated during his best seasons in the NFL with the Titans. That period has passed, and Tannehill is now three years older and less mobile.
The Steelers appear to be looking elsewhere after failing to reach an agreement with Pickett.
Steelers supporters react to the news of quarterback Mitch Trubisky’s release.
Less than 24 hours after the Super Bowl, the Pittsburgh Steelers went to work, releasing three players, including quarterback Mitchell Trubisky. Trubisky has been heavily criticized during his time in Pittsburgh, and as evidenced by the tweets below, he will be sorely missed in the Steel City.
Steelers reportedly likely to investigate adding QB Ryan Tannehill in free agency to compete for Kenny Pickett.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Pittsburgh Steelers are expected to look into signing quarterback Ryan Tannehill this offseason to compete with Kenny Pickett.
Tannehill is set to become a free agent after spending the last five seasons with the Tennessee Titans. The Steelers hired Arthur Smith as offensive coordinator last week. Smith served as Tannehill’s offensive coordinator in Tennessee for two seasons before taking over as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons for the final three.
Mike Tomlin seeks competition for Kenny Pickett.
In January, at his season-ending news conference, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin stated that he wanted competition for Pickett next season. Pickett missed the rest of the season due to an ankle ailment, and he was benched in the playoffs when healthy in favor of backup Mason Rudolph.
Rudolph is a free agent, and Tomlin did not want to start training camp without a second quarterback to fight for the position.
“There will be competition,” Tomlin remarked on Jan. 18. “I appreciate [Pickett’s] efforts and where he is, and I’m happy to continue working with him. However, in the future, he will undoubtedly face competition.
Pickett will enter the third year of his four-year, $14 million rookie contract, which he signed after the Steelers selected him in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He started 13 games as a rookie, and 12 in 2023.
Pickett threw six touchdowns and four interceptions in 12 games, completing 62% of his throws for an average of 172.5 yards per game. He has seven touchdowns and nine interceptions as a rookie.
In 2023, the Steelers were ranked 25th in the NFL in total and passing offense, and 28th in points scored. Pittsburgh advanced to the playoffs as a wild card despite its offensive woes, owing in large part to a defense that forced 27 turnovers. They fell in the first round to the Buffalo Bills.
Tannehill, 35, was prolific throughout his five seasons with the Titans. In 63 games with the Titans, he threw 90 touchdowns and 40 interceptions while completing 66.6% of his throws for an average of 215.6 yards. Tennessee selected quarterback Will Levis in the second round of last year’s draft and anointed him the starter for the second half of the season as it sought to transition to the future.
Report: Steelers to target Ryan Tannehill in free agency.
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ first goal this offseason is quarterback, so it stands to reason that, even with Kenny Pickett in the fold, the front management will seek competition. Former Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill is the free agent we thought would be the best fit, and according to Mike Garofolo, Tom Pelissero, and Ian Rapoport, the Steelers believe the same.
According to the trio, new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, who has worked with Tannehill before, is expected to be a significant consideration.
With new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, Pittsburgh is expected to look at acquiring free agency Ryan Tannehill, who had his best years with the Titans while Smith was the OC.
Smith was the Titans’ offensive coordinator for two seasons, and during that time, Tannehill was outstanding, even winning Comeback Player of the Year. Given the premium given to premier quarterbacks, Tannehill could be a good compromise between what a guy like Kirk Cousins will seek and re-signing Mason Rudolph.
Even if Pickett is the long-term option, Tannehill is more familiar with the offense and would provide the Steelers with a greater opportunity to win right now. Furthermore, Tannehill has demonstrated a willingness to mentor new quarterbacks, which may prove useful beyond the 2024 season.
