5 bold predictions for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2018

2. Mason Rudolph will get multiple starts

The Steelers raised quite a few eyebrows when they decided to draft Rudolph in the third round. He won’t threaten Roethlisberger’s status as a starter this season, but that doesn’t mean he won’t get several chances to make an impression on the coaching staff.

Simple odds dictate that Rudolph is going to get at least two starts. First off, Roethlisberger has had a tendency to miss a few games over the past several seasons. As long as Rudolph is able to beat out Landry Jones to win the backup job that means he’ll get a crack at starting games in his absence.

Even if Roethlisberger doesn’t miss any time due to injury, there’s a significant probability the Steelers can clinch their playoff position before the year is over. If that happens, Tomlin and company will want to get Big Ben some valuable rest. Again, if he’s on the bench, Rudolph is going to get his opportunity.

Some Steelers fans might bet on Roethlisberger to be invincible or Jones to win the backup job, but Rudolph was brought to the Steel City for a reason. The team’s front office is going to want to get a look at their quarterback of the future this season. The plan isn’t for Rudolph to get meaningful playing time this season, but the odds favor him getting some chance to showcase his talents in 2018.