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If You're The Pittsburgh GM, Who Would You Rather Have As Steelers QB? - Rudolph or Rodgers? (4 Viewers)

If You're The Pittsburgh GM, Who Would You Rather Have As Steelers QB?

  • Total voters
    111
Joe Bryant

Joe Bryant

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Interesting discussion about whether the Steelers would be better off this year with Mason Rudolph or Aaron Rodgers.

What do you think?

And yes, these are the only two choices for this poll.
 
With the state of the team; you have to go Rodgers. Their core isn't getting healthier/younger. They have talent...on any given week during the regular season, they can beat any other team. It's just when they reach the playoffs they've been exposed. If Rodgers is right/healthy....he gives them the best chance to win and go deep in the playoffs. With Rudolph....at BEST they're losing to BAL in the Wild Card again. *

* That being said, I don't even know if Rodgers can take them further than the AFC Championship....so you'd have to weight if a "Deal with the Devil" is worth two rounds in the playoffs. But, I'd imagine Tomlin is much closer to the end of his career in PIT than the beginning; and this might be his last shot...particularly with this core.
 
Rodgers for sure. Let's not pretend Rudolph is any good. This is a guy who struggled to hold off Duck Hodges once upon a time. He's a middling backup.

I think Rodgers days of being a quality starter are gone, and I personally think they'd have been better off just sticking with Fields, or even brining Russ back, but those options are gone, and Rodgers>Rudolph is a pretty easy call in my eyes.

Now if Kirk Cousins is gettable without giving up much post-June 1st, then I think Cousins>Rodgers. But that's not the question here.
 
The Steelers are not good enough to win with the current version of these two options. I would absolutely have dealt with the Rodgers circus 5 years ago for his play on the field. The circus however got bigger and the on field play got worse. I'd take my chances with Rudolph if those are my only options.
 
kutta said:
menobrown said:
Anyone voting Rudolph is voting as if tanking is the best option.
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That’s kind of the only option.
They aren’t winning a Super Bowl with Rodgers. Maybe they make the playoffs. Then what happens next year?
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Hard disagree.

Other than it not being compatible with their roster it not the reality of how NFL teams operate. It’s not a Madden Franchise. This entire tank notion for NFL teams is fan fiction.
 
menobrown said:
kutta said:
menobrown said:
Anyone voting Rudolph is voting as if tanking is the best option.
Click to expand...
That’s kind of the only option.
They aren’t winning a Super Bowl with Rodgers. Maybe they make the playoffs. Then what happens next year?
Click to expand...
Hard disagree.

Other than it not being compatible with their roster it not the reality of how NFL teams operate. It’s not a Madden Franchise. This entire tank notion for NFL teams is fan fiction.
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Well, I agree. For the most part.
I don’t think that teams intentionally “tank.” But I do think there’s an evaluation done when signing a 41 year old QB if he’s good enough to win a superbowl. Because there’s not many years left in a 41 year old arm.
If the answer is “no,” then you look at your best available options and move on.

If that’s “tanking” to you, then so be it. To me it’s smart management.
 
In the various Rodgers / Steelers threads, I have already voiced my opinion that the Steelers could and should have done things differently going as far back as 2017 when it came to the future of the QB spot in PIT post Roethlisberger. It's tough to now force an either / or opinion on what has been a long-term problem.

Rodgers probably gives PIT a better chance to win more games than Rudolph does, but that doesn't mean either one of them gives them a good chance to be a top-tier competitor. Most likely, of these two options, it would be more of the same. In the hunt for a playoff spot and likely another early exit in the playoffs (but continuing the streak of .500 or better seasons).

As for Rodgers, looking at his last two full seasons as a starter, he ranked 17th and 21st in QB rating, 27th and 28th in QBR, 20th and 22nd in AY/A, and 20th and 30th in completion%. All of those were his worst two seasons as a starter in each of those categories. He also went 13-21 record wise in those two seasons.

IMO, Rodgers is more likely to continue to post similar mediocre numbers than he is to rediscover his old MVP form. But the Steelers can say he was a multi-time MVP (which they can't say about Rudolph). If PIT airs it out like they did with Big Ben, then Rodgers could put up decent total counting stats (but likely not very efficiently). The other question is how good is the Steelers offense? They've been Bottom 10 in offensive yardage for 6 consecutive seasons.
 
If I'm the GM and I want to undermine and get rid of Tomlin, I go Rodgers.

But if I were the GM, I don't think I'd want to do that. So I'm going Rudolph and tanking. Unless I think tanking is going to get MY *** fired.
 
menobrown said:
Anyone voting Rudolph is voting as if tanking is the best option.
Click to expand...
or does not believe Rodgers will get them more wins.
As a Jets fan, he did not look good last year. Pittsburgh is a better team overall, but I do not see Rodgers being materially better than a backup at this point. I think his body is not moving at the speed of his mind, and he is unable to compensate. Based on my history of predicting the NFL, and the inferred quality of judgment being a Jets fan the last 50 years, you should all make bets on PIT winning the SB.
 
TomServo said:
menobrown said:
Anyone voting Rudolph is voting as if tanking is the best option.
Click to expand...
or does not believe Rodgers will get them more wins.
As a Jets fan, he did not look good last year. Pittsburgh is a better team overall, but I do not see Rodgers being materially better than a backup at this point. I think his body is not moving at the speed of his mind, and he is unable to compensate. Based on my history of predicting the NFL, and the inferred quality of judgment being a Jets fan the last 50 years, you should all make bets on PIT winning the SB.
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Thanks but don't agree with that and pretty sure 99% of NFL GM's and coaches don't either.
 
Joe Bryant said:
Terpman22 said:
Mason give you the best chance at a high draft pick in 2026.
Click to expand...

I definitely agree with that.
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You're the Steelers fan . . . what do you want them to do? Do you really think they would be legit contenders with Rodgers? It sounds like you are not in favor of rolling with Randolph. Do you have visions of Rodgers playing like he did in 2011 and leading a freight train of an offense in PIT?

I've had some concerns with the narrative that the Steelers hands were tied over the last few years, and they weren't in a position to draft a QB (always had to draft too late in the first round), there weren't great free agents available, and therefore they couldn't have done anything differently. Basically, they tried, but their moves didn't pan out. Shrug, not much they could have done about it.

In other threads, I mentioned that at any point they could have been more aggressive and made a bold move to land an impact QB. They could have traded up into the top of the draft, they could have acquired an established QB by trade, or they could have found the money and ponied up for a high-profile free agent. But they didn't do any of those.

Yes, they drafted a few QBs (Dobbs, Rudolph, Pickett), signed some pretty meh free agents (Trubisky, Wilson . . . potentially Rodgers), made a trade for Fields (who didn't show a ton in CHI), and even tried an UDFA (Hodges) at one point. Sure, those checked the box for "trying to land a QB," but none of those moves were bold attempts to bring in a highly competent, long-term option at the QB position. They were never bad enough to be in position holistically to earn an early top of the draft pick, but that doesn't mean they couldn't have acquired one.

Last year, PIT went the cheap route in rolling with Wilson (paid by the Broncos), and Fields . . . but they kept neither one. The reason I say they didn't do nearly enough is they could have done a lot more when they knew Roethlisberger would be winding down soon. His 14th season was when he was 35. That was 8 years ago. That's why I keep harping on the "what should the Steelers do TODAY" threads involving only 2 QB options, as it makes it sound like PIT suddenly, unexpectedly, unbeknownst to them need a QB. But that is far from the case.

To be fair, yes, they could have made some bigger moves, and those moves could have blown up in their face (like the Niners trading a cache of picks to draft Trey Lance). Bold moves can flame out, too. But if I were a fan of the Steelers, I would rather they had swung for the fences and missed then settle for leftovers and table scraps year after year at QB. The rest of the team and defense usually has been good enough to make some noise in the playoffs, but the QB play and the offense has not. (PIT allowing a boatload of points in the playoffs is a different concern and likely a topic for a different thread). Over the past 3 seasons combined since Roethlisberger retired, the Steelers ranked 26th in passing yards.

As a non-fan of the Steelers, I would encourage them to continue on the same path and to utilize the same strategy, as it clearly hasn't worked (and IMO will most likely continue not to work).
 
they have 0 shot at winning much of anything this year with any of these QBs being talked about, so make it more enjoyable for the fans/players, go with Rudolph until he loses a bunch in a row, then see what you have in Howard.
 
Firstly, curious how Arthur Smith and Rodgers would get along. I believe they're both strongly in the "Pro play action" camp.. Have to imagine there's a lot of overlap in what Smith wants to do and what Rodgers is willing to. If they've already had discussions?.. have to imagine discussions have already happened.

2nd year post injury is usually a thing. One of the Waldman-Angelo pods that I mowed the lawn to a couple of weeks ago was a discussion of how injured (ie recently healed) tissues recover from stress. It's not that you can't load them it's that loading them, creating impact/contact etc is where the injuries slow down player function. So in the 2nd year, its more likely that any initial mobility may be more capable of recovering post game/contact/ loading etc.

I think it's a done deal and they have a gentleman's agreement on roughly when he'll come into the fold. Hopefully they've given him some boundaries that he can stick to.

As for why- and without getting into politics - you're only ever alive right now. Who gives you a better chance of winning? Do you think you can win 11 games with the better of the two? There's your answer.
 
steelcityman said:
they have 0 shot at winning much of anything this year with any of these QBs being talked about, so make it more enjoyable for the fans/players, go with Rudolph until he loses a bunch in a row, then see what you have in Howard.
Click to expand...
I disagree with this slightly. Sometimes a defensive unit can be so stifling that they always give the team a shot. The Pittsburgh pass rush is one of those units in my book.
 
greenmountaingoat said:
Firstly, curious how Arthur Smith and Rodgers would get along. I believe they're both strongly in the "Pro play action" camp.. Have to imagine there's a lot of overlap in what Smith wants to do and what Rodgers is willing to. If they've already had discussions?.. have to imagine discussions have already happened.

2nd year post injury is usually a thing. One of the Waldman-Angelo pods that I mowed the lawn to a couple of weeks ago was a discussion of how injured (ie recently healed) tissues recover from stress. It's not that you can't load them it's that loading them, creating impact/contact etc is where the injuries slow down player function. So in the 2nd year, its more likely that any initial mobility may be more capable of recovering post game/contact/ loading etc.

I think it's a done deal and they have a gentleman's agreement on roughly when he'll come into the fold. Hopefully they've given him some boundaries that he can stick to.

As for why- and without getting into politics - you're only ever alive right now. Who gives you a better chance of winning? Do you think you can win 11 games with the better of the two? There's your answer.
Click to expand...

Absolutely. I have to think Rodgers and Smith have had extensive discussions. As well as Tomlin and the front office.

Starting the season with Mason Rudolph as your QB1 seems like malpractice to me. But obviously, lots of people here would prefer him over Rodgers. So I would think they already have the gentleman's agreement you mentioned as rolling out Rudolph seems unimaginable. But maybe not. We'll see.
 
Why pay Rodgers anything to find out he's lost his swagger? I guess if you need in-person proof vs. video, maybe?

Knock off this crap with Rodgers, shut the door any QB competition talk, hand the reins to Rudolph.
 
Joe Bryant said:
Interesting discussion about whether the Steelers would be better off this year with Mason Rudolph or Aaron Rodgers.

What do you think?

And yes, these are the only two choices for this poll.
Click to expand...
Rudolph is hot garbage. A third stringer.

I would take Rodgers at 60% of what he was over a 100% Rudolph.

And so will the Steelers.
 
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Black and Gold said:
menobrown said:
Joe Bryant said:
Terpman22 said:
Mason give you the best chance at a high draft pick in 2026.
Click to expand...

I definitely agree with that.
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Same, which is what I was implying when I said a vote for Rudolph is vote for tanking.
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Although, it can be said that Mason has given Pittsburgh the best 3-game stretch QB play Post-Ben out of any of the others......
Click to expand...
Blind squirrels do find nuts sometimes.

They are going to win 6-7 games tops with Rudolph….the ceiling is very low.

They actually have a chance with Rodgers to get beyond the first round of the post season.

And I don’t like Rodgers much anymore……but Rudolph!!!! Lol.
 
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