4 free agents the Steelers should happily let leave

2. Mason Rudolph

The Steelers thought they could have Ben Roethlisberger’s successor on their hands when they spent a third-round selection on Rudolph in the 2018 draft. It’s now clear that the former Oklahoma State star is nothing more than an average backup.

The reality that Kenny Pickett is now firmly entrenched as Pittsburgh’s quarterback of the present and future makes Rudolph’s presence on the roster superfluous. There might be a temptation to bring him back as Pickett’s backup for the sake of continuity, but he just doesn’t have the upside to merit any serious investment in free agency.

Instead, the Steelers should be shopping in the bargain bin of free agency for a new backup signal-caller. Pickett could benefit from the tutelage of a more seasoned veteran behind him. Rudolph doesn’t offer anything to the young quarterback due to his lack of meaningful NFL experience.

Bringing Rudolph back on a small deal wouldn’t be a disaster for the Steelers’ offseason, but there’s no real point in bringing such a limited quarterback back into the fold. Letting him walk might seem like a waste of a recent third-round pick but there’s no reason for Pittsburgh to compound their draft mistake with an overpay in free agency.