Debate continues to swirl regarding what the Pittsburgh Steelers will do for a starting quarterback in 2025.
However, in this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast, Mark Madden of 105.9 The X and TribLive believes the franchise should have one singular agenda.
“The only decision the Steelers need to make correctly in the near future is who they pick to be their long-term quarterback,” Madden said. “Presumably in the 2026 draft.”
That decision is now heightened based on how the Steelers handled their last attempt at a first-round quarterback selection in 2022 when they drafted Pitt’s Kenny Pickett.
“Blowing it with Pickett set them back four to five years,” Madden continued. “That can’t happen again. Having blown it with Pickett is why they’re in the position they’re in.”
As of the time of this post, the Steelers have Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson as the only quarterbacks on their roster. They also aren’t drafting until the 21st pick in the first round, so there won’t be a first-round-worthy QB left by that point.
As a result, Madden thinks that riding it out in 2025 with Rudolph may be a better option than trying to be just a game or two better with aging veteran free agents like Russell Wilson or Aaron Rodgers.
“Maybe that’s OK,” Madden said. “I’ve got no problem with (Rudolph) coming back, I’d have no problem with starting him. I think if you sign Rodgers, there’s going to be a massive amount of headaches.”
Madden said going with Rudolph could be more expeditious than Rodgers — not to mention more prudent financially.
“I’d rather have Mason Rudolph at $4 million per season than Aaron Rogers at $33 million per season, which is what he’s rumored to be asking,” Madden added. “You start Mason for a year, maybe you go 5-12, which they desperately needed to do for quite some time. Maybe he surprises you. I actually think they probably would win close to eight or nine games with Rudolph at quarterback. I think the four games he started at the end of the 2023 season provided better quarterbacking than either Wilson or Fields did all of last year.”
Also in the podcast, Madden and I discuss the logic behind acquiring DK Metcalf, the theory of extending T.J. Watt’s contract, George Pickens’ future and the Penguins’ recent four-game win streak.
