Professional Soccer Focus isn’t eager on the concept of Mason Rudolph lobbing downfield passes to DK Metcalf. In its checklist rating the NFL’s high quarterback-receiver duos, the Pittsburgh Steelers introduced up the rear. The slotting might change if and when Aaron Rodgers indicators however for now, the Steelers’ pairing is within the basement.
“Metcalf went from coast to coast, shifting from Seattle to Pittsburgh this offseason,” PFF’s Trevor Sikkema wrote. “We’re undecided who the Steelers’ QB1 will likely be, however Mason Rudolph, who recorded 61.5 (2024) and 53.5 (2019) PFF passing grades within the two seasons the place he has taken greater than 200 drop backs, is at the moment slated to imagine that title.”
In his introductory press convention, Metcalf stated the Steelers promised that they had a nice plan at quarterback. Greater than two months later, that plan hasn’t been revealed. It seemingly is banking on Rodgers signing earlier than coaching camp. For the second, neither are in Pittsburgh. Rodgers stays unsigned and Metcalf hasn’t confirmed up for any of the staff’s 5 voluntary OTA practices, although he figures to attend subsequent week’s necessary minicamp.
In a current rating of the NFL’s high beginning quarterbacks, PFF listed Rudolph thirty first general and solely forward of New Orleans Saints rookie Tyler Shough. In Sikkema’s checklist, the Shough-to-Chris Olave connection ranked one spot larger. Additionally forward of Rudolph to Metcalf have been the Cleveland Browns’ duo of Joe Flacco and Jerry Jeudy and the Tennessee Titans’ Cam Ward to Calvin Ridley.
Whereas Rudolph doesn’t have the NFL’s strongest arm, he throws a succesful and correct deep ball that ought to match properly sufficient with Metcalf’s ability set. In 2023, Rudolph and WR George Pickens fashioned a sizzling connection. In Rudolph’s first two begins, Pickens caught 11 passes for 326 yards and two touchdowns. Solely a rain-soaked finale blunted the connection.
It’s affordable to put the Steelers low on the checklist primarily for his or her unsure and at the moment unappealing quarterback state of affairs. However is it truthful to put Rudolph and Metcalf useless final? There’s a case to be made they need to be above New Orleans, with a complete unknown in Shough and a concussion-riddled Olave, and even Flacco and Jeudy.
Rudolph may very well be argued as the higher quarterback than Flacco and plenty of would rank Metcalf above Jeudy. There’s additionally the query of how a lot larger Pittsburgh will rank if Rodgers assumes QB1 duties, even when summer season fodder content material will likely be irrelevant by the point Rodgers takes his first significant snap.
