On the heels of Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco commenting on veterans mentoring rookies, Ben Roethlisberger is revisiting his previous feedback that when generated loads of controversy. Throughout a stay episode of his Footbahlin podcast, Roethlisberger mentioned his thought course of when the Pittsburgh Steelers drafted Mason Rudolph in 2017.
And his ideas on Rudolph at present.
“After they drafted Mason, I made feedback about, and I don’t even keep in mind my feedback,” Roethlisberger advised co-host Spencer Te’o through the present. “But it surely was like, why did we draft Mason? It wasn’t a shot at Mason. I didn’t have an issue with Mason. They may have drafted Patrick Mahomes, whoever. It wasn’t a shot on the individual. It was how are we making our staff higher by drafting a man within the [third round].”
Not solely did Pittsburgh draft Rudolph within the third spherical of the 2018 draft, it traded up for him, too. Leap-frogging the Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh climbed a handful of spots to amass him. A 3rd-round choose is draft grey space between potential franchise future and backup. Irrespective of the plan, Rudolph wasn’t going to be an influence participant his rookie season.
On the time, that’s the purpose of competition Roethlisberger had.
“I assumed that possibly within the third spherical, you realize you will get some actually good soccer gamers that may assist this staff now,” Roethlisberger stated by way of ESPN in Could 2018.
Pittsburgh used its first two picks on gamers who might assist instantly. Robust security Terrell Edmunds was chosen within the first spherical and began 15 video games as a rookie. Large receiver James Washington was picked subsequent however uncooked from Oklahoma State’s unfold system, he caught simply 16 passes his first yr. Impressed by Rudolph’s Professional Day and the attract of reuniting him with Washington on the NFL stage, Pittsburgh had a watch towards the longer term with Rudolph.
“I might’ve stated the identical factor if they might’ve went, we had Maurkice Pouncey, if they might’ve went and drafted a middle,” Roethlisberger stated. “‘What are we doing? Go discover a want within the third spherical.’”
In 2017, Pittsburgh was coming off a 13-3 season and AFC North crown earlier than a bitter playoff upset loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. On the time, the Steelers had actual Tremendous Bowl aspirations and had been probably just a few items away from being put excessive. Nonetheless, each entrance workplace should stability current and future and groups just like the Inexperienced Bay Packers, utilizing first-round picks on QBs Aaron Rodgers and Jordan Love, discovered seamless transitions to stay contenders.
After these 2018 feedback, Roethlisberger and Rudolph had an icy relationship. One thing each have admitted to within the years since. However Roethlisberger says that doesn’t influence his ideas on Rudolph now, at the moment working because the staff’s beginning quarterback throughout spring practices.
“I don’t have an issue with Mason. Are we boys? Are we buddies? No. We don’t must be although. However I’m rooting for him. I need him to achieve success. I need him to steer this staff.”
In 2023, Roethlisberger vouched for Rudolph after he got here off the bench and turned across the Steelers’ season, serving to them win their last three regular-season video games to make the playoffs. Roethlisberger’s additionally spoken extremely of rookie QB Will Howard, inviting him onto his podcast, and is conscious Aaron Rodgers might signal at any minute to push Rudolph out of the beginning spot.
Regardless of the readability, Roethlisberger stated many will nonetheless contend he dealt with the state of affairs incorrectly.
“Each followers, and I’m positive some media folks choose up on this that can completely disagree. Assume every part I say is stuffed with crap. And most of them most likely have by no means performed or been within the state of affairs anyway, so it doesn’t actually matter.”
