Former Steelers lineman has savage comment about Mason Rudolph
By John Buhler
Former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman Trai Essex sees Mason Rudolph as just a guy.
While the Pittsburgh Steelers have to adjust to life without Ben Roethlisberger, their rabid fanbase is not going to like what former offensive lineman Trai Essex had to say about Mason Rudolph.
Essex told Steelers radio network host Adam Crowley on Friday, “He’s a backup quarterback … If you don’t have your main guys into the locker room going to bat for you, that’s a trouble spot.”
Rudolph may have been a third-round pick by the Steelers out of Oklahoma State in the 2018 NFL Draft, but he did offer great promise coming out four years ago. While he lit it up playing for Mike Gundy in Stillwater, apparently carving up Big 12 defenses did not hasten the learning curve when it came to becoming a franchise quarterback in the NFL. Rudolph may just be a guy in the league.
Though filling the shoes of Roethlisberger was going to be challenging for him, it seems that nobody believes Rudolph is the heir apparent under center in Pittsburgh.
Trai Essex on Mason Rudolph: "He's a backup quarterback...If you don't have your main guys into the locker room going to bat for you, that's a trouble spot."
— Adam Crowley (@_adamcrowley) February 18, 2022
Former Steelers OL believes Mason Rudolph is just a guy playing quarterback
Anybody who is a Steelers fan or has followed the NFL closely for the last few years could have told you that. Rudolph may have the size and arm talent to be a franchise quarterback on paper, but once again, it is all about the intangibles. He has had four years to prove to everyone in the Steelers building that he’s got next when Big Ben retires. Sadly, he is not the next Aaron Rodgers…
The good news for the Steelers is they have a decent draft pick to not reach on a quarterback. They may have to trade up to get into the top-10 to get their guy, but Pittsburgh can have any number of signal-callers entering the 2022 NFL Draft. Whether it’s Kenny Pickett, Matt Corral, Sam Howell, Malik Willis or Desmond Ridder, Pittsburgh is in a good spot to take a quarterback.
The sooner Pittsburgh realizes Rudolph is not the guy, the sooner they can identify the one who is.
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