Backup QB 2020

[SteelerDayTrader]

My thinking has changed here.

I think the Steelers should bring in a FA.

My top choice would be Winston.
Somewhat cheap. Has the arm.

I would roll with Winston and Lynch and hope for the best.

I might consider Fitzpatrick. Maybe Keenum.

[Jizz Mop]

Mariota for right price....

[Jobu]

The backup QB in 2020 will be Mason Rudolph.

And at the idea of Jameis Winston being cheap!

[Orangesteel]

Mariota

[Pabst]

Career backups like AJ McCarron, Chase Daniel, and Chad Henne are all making at least $3m/year. For all his warts, Winston will still be coming off of a 5000 yd and 30 TD season. He's not going to sign somewhere where he'll be a backup (and paid accordingly). If they go sign Winston, then there's no way they can resign Dupree and Hargrave.

[drmalba]

God, with this defense, Fitzmagic could have had this team in the fifth seed for the playoffs and make a serious run. He's making gold out of mostly scrap there in Miami (though Devante Parker is looking like quite a find).

I agree - even with Duck and Rudolph both getting a few nice wins this year, and keeping us in contention or just outside of it, you bring a veteran in here next camp to shake it up.

[StillerInCT]

Winston will catch on as a starter somewhere. Yes he's turnover prone, but he still has plenty of arm talent. He won't come cheap.

[StillerInCT]

Career backups like AJ McCarron, Chase Daniel, and Chad Henne are all making at least $3m/year. For all his warts, Winston will still be coming off of a 5000 yd and 30 TD season. He's not going to sign somewhere where he'll be a backup (and paid accordingly). If they go sign Winston, then there's no way they can resign Dupree and Hargrave.

Agreed. I don't think Winston will be close to cheap or willing to be a backup.

[COR-TEN]

I know many here hate MR, but he was ok as a backup before being knocked out - and would probably benefit from a QB coach. Although I wouldn't be averse to bringing in a vet as a backup, those mentioned would probably want too much money to sit behind BR (and probably want to be starters like Mariota/ Winston), thus making other signings difficult - as highlighted by pabst.

Although some of those players might take a pay cut to be on a contending team for a SB, especially now that the D has turned a corner, pun intended.

[SteelerDayTrader]

Mason and Duck will never be able to play well in Pittsburgh.

Both have SEVERE limitations they cant play through.

If they were playing on teams that didnt require elite QB play they might have a shot at being close to coinflip/.500 backup QBs elsewhere.

I like them both as football players.

I would be looking to unload both as soon as the season is over

[Jizz Mop]

What are we getting for either at season’s end?

Duck has shown horribly of late

Mason is on IR and didn’t exactly light it up

I believe, (trying not laugh) at diff times posters here said we could get first rounders for either of them

Is that still on the table?

[Jobu]

Let’s get real. Rudolph was a 3rd round pick with two years remaining on his contract, he’s going nowhere.
Barring injury, next seasons QB depth chart...
Ben Roethlisberger
Mason Rudolph
Paxton Lynch

[bradshaw2ben]

You are trading a shitty backup QB for Bud Dupree - Javon Hargrave or BJ Finney. Still doing the deal?

IF you trade Mason and get out from under his money and pay someone basically the same cap hit, maybe. But that seems doubtful.

[Jizz Mop]

You are trading a shitty backup QB for Bud Dupree - Javon Hargrave or BJ Finney. Still doing the deal?

IF you trade Mason and get out from under his money and pay someone basically the same cap hit, maybe. But that seems doubtful.

I heard on this site we may be able to get 1sts for them.....

[COR-TEN]

Let’s get real. Rudolph was a 3rd round pick with two years remaining on his contract, he’s going nowhere.
Barring injury, next seasons QB depth chart...
Ben Roethlisberger
Mason Rudolph
Paxton Lynch

They'll bring someone else in to "compete." Either with MR or Hodges. The only thing that is certain is that MR will be either QB2 or QB3. Where Lynch is lands is an unknown. We have no idea what he's done since being signed. Only the coaching staff knows. . .

[Jobu]

Let’s get real. Rudolph was a 3rd round pick with two years remaining on his contract, he’s going nowhere.
Barring injury, next seasons QB depth chart...
Ben Roethlisberger
Mason Rudolph
Paxton Lynch

They'll bring someone else in to "compete." Either with MR or Hodges. The only thing that is certain is that MR will be either QB2 or QB3. Where Lynch is lands is an unknown. We have no idea what he's done since being signed. Only the coaching staff knows. . .

Sure, but that “someone else” will be a UDFA or late rounder from the past year or two that’s been cut a time or two. It certainly won’t be a Marcus Marietta, Jameis Winston caliber guy...

[Obviously]

Ben starter
Mason #2

Get used to it.

[bradshaw2ben]

Ben starter
Mason #2

Get used to it.

I honestly don't think Mason is any better than Duck. They both plummeted in the same way when trained as starters, and I have zero faith Rudolph wouldn't go right back to being completely unwatchable given the chance to start again.

[Scunge]

I disagree with my esteemed colleague B2B, I think Mason is better than Duck, has more tools, does have a better arm, a more accurate arm, has that 6'5" height, etc.

I agree with others that they will probably bring back Big Ben, Mason, Duck and Lynch and finally hire a quality QB coach. I think Lynch and Duck will fight for that 3rd spot. Part of me still thinks that one of the reasons why Lynch is here is because he is a Memphis alum and Fitchner coached there and has close ties. Sounds stupid but there you go.

Backup QBs can make quite a bit of coin, too expensive for us when we have to worry about Bud Dupree and Javon Hargrave and BJ Finney, and signing Nick Vannett, and putting 2nd round tenders on Mike Hilton and Matt Feiler, or downright signing Matt Feiler to a new contract. Having a competent starting RT is not easy to find or draft, Feiler should get a 5 year $30 million contract at the very least. Cam Heyward is in his last year of his contract, Big Al is in the last year of his contract.

How do you sign a vet back QB with all of those players needing to being signed??

For all of those that think, hey we get Ben back next year, look out, Super Bowl 7 here we come. Not so fast. This team can easily fall apart if they don't keep the team intact. If Dupree and Hargrave are gone, if Finney leaves, if Nick Vannett leaves, how do you replace all of those players in one offseason, with a draft with a smaller number of selections?? You can't, and yet if it does happen that we have a purge of players then this team will fall back, be worse as a team next year.

[Lynch]

In all seriousness, I would try to re-acquire Landry Jones. We could have won some games with him this year.

[LakecrestSteeler]

Ben starter
Mason #2

Get used to it.

I honestly don't think Mason is any better than Duck. They both plummeted in the same way when trained as starters, and I have zero faith Rudolph wouldn't go right back to being completely unwatchable given the chance to start again.

Scunge disagrees with B2B. I will take the middle road and say that getting rid of Mason would be easier than getting rid of Landry.

Getting rid of Landry was like dropping a letter off at the post office.

Getting rid of Mason would be like dropping a letter in the mail in one of those towns where the mail boxes are on the porch right beside the door.

[Orangesteel]

Mason and Duck are both subpar BACKUPS; if the Steelers would have done away with continuing to draft backup QBs and not getting a very good one, went after a season veteran with backup experience and rolled that way, drmalba is correct, we would be a lock as the 6th seed right now and maybe contending for the 5th.

Would have had those extra draft picks to get some much needed starters at other positions and had a veteran under center, not some guy named after a water bird.

Sorry to be Debbie Downer but this is what it’s like to be 4 days from another bullshit season of missing the playoffs.

[bradshaw2ben]

I disagree with my esteemed colleague B2B, I think Mason is better than Duck, has more tools, does have a better arm, a more accurate arm, has that 6'5" height, etc.

Footwork is so so so so bad, and he has no sense of what to do under pressure. He has major problems throwing to an entire half of the field.

[955876]

If only we had a coach dedicated to work on such things as footwork.

[bradshaw2ben]

When I say he has problems throwing to one side of the field, I should actually have said MOST of the field-- it's just more pronounced as you go downfield and left to right:

Mason Rudolph
pass accuracy regardless of catch outcome
by distance: 90% to 0 yds (24th), 1-10 76.3% (33rd), 11-20 28.6% (42nd), 21+ 43.8% (40th)
by direction: Lsideline 57.1% (14th) left seam 43.8 (41st) right seam 30.0% (44th) Right sideline 17.6% (46th)

[SteelPowerful]

B2B's arguments do not hold any water for those of us who actually watch the games. Stats never tell the whole story. Hodges is not even in the same world as Rudolph. Also, an OC can make a world of a difference for a QB. Rudolph certainly is not a franchise QB but he has been good enough.

Jared Goff was deemed a bust before McVay came along. Rudolph is serviceable. And that is exactly what you're likely going to get for a QB drafted in the third round.

Fancy stats. How is pass accuracy defined? I've watched Rudolph stand in the pocket and complete tough throws.

In addition, those two games after he sustained a concussion should be thrown out.

[SteelerDayTrader]

Both Mason and Duck have sucked. I want them gone. I could deal with Lynch and a UDFA I guess.

I want Finney McD Chickillo Switzer Red Barron gone.

Finney is fucking horrible. Fat slow weak and short armed.

Foster is passable but probably a cap cut.

Thats probably more than enough to sign Hargrave and DuPree.

I hope Paxton Lynch has something. Rudolph and Hodges are easily the worst QBs in the NFL this year.

This team has major holes on every offensive unit.

Its a shitty year for Centers TEs and RBs in the draft.

I like Cesar Ruiz in the 4th or later. Might be a better pro than college athlete.

I fear more than anything else this team will just continue to patch holes until Ben retires and the damn breaks.

The Steelers need at least 2 rookie offensive players who can start/push for time pronto.

I doubt the Steelers score more than 13 against raven backups. I have zero idea how they get in the end zone this Sunday to be honest.

Unless Lynch comes off the bench and plays well Im having trouble seeing 9 pts truthfully

[Steelperch]

Three things.

Some of you apparently don’t understand the Steelers lack of Salary cap space.

Some of you don’t understand the Steelers have major UFA’s like Dupree, Hargrave, etc.. that they need to make cuts to keep.

Some of you don’t understand Jameis Winston is gonna get PAID somewhere. He’s just 25 and threw for over 5000 yards and 30 TDs this year. Uncle Bruce won’t let him walk. Rudolph is your backup next year. Duck fights to be #3.

[Donnie Brasco]

In all seriousness, I would try to re-acquire Landry Jones. We could have won some games with him this year.

There's no appreciable difference between Jones and Rudolph

Both have the pocket presence of a 6th grader

[SteelerDayTrader]

Three things.

Some of you apparently don’t understand the Steelers lack of Salary cap space.

Some of you don’t understand the Steelers have major UFA’s like Dupree, Hargrave, etc.. that they need to make cuts to keep.

Some of you don’t understand Jameis Winston is gonna get PAID somewhere. He’s just 25 and threw for over 5000 yards and 30 TDs this year. Uncle Bruce won’t let him walk. Rudolph is your backup next year. Duck fights to be #3.

Probably true......but damn thats a sad situation...