When speaking to the media on Monday, outgoing Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert provided an update on a number of topics, beginning with his personal plans. As Gerry Dulac of The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports (via Twitter), he is unlikely to completely retire once his successor is named. 
[Related: Steelers GM Kevin Colbert To Step Down]
Specifically, Colbert said, “I may or may not have a role” with the franchise after his contract expires following the draft. Dulac adds that the 65-year-old made his intention to step down clear last May, noting that “it was time from a personal standpoint, it was time from a professional standpoint”. ESPN’s Brooke Pryor tweets that Colbert is helping with the search for the new GM, which is primarily taking place before March 1st because teams can block candidates from interviewing after that date.
With regards to the top offseason priority in Pittsburgh – the search for a new starting quarterback – Colbert repeated the team’s public support of Mason Rudolph. “We have confidence that Mason, if we started today, would be our starter and we’re excited to see where that can go”, he said (Twitter link via Dulac). Rudolph holds a record of 5-4-1 as a starter after being a third round pick in 2018.
Here are some other Steelers notes, including more on the QB situation:
- Colbert made it clear that the team, as expected, will place an RFA tender on Dwayne Haskins. That will leave the Steelers with two incumbent signal callers, but Colbert said “we know we’re going to add to the position” in the offseason, adding that “we will go to camp with four” (Twitter link via Pryor). He didn’t specify what avenue the team could take to acquire other options, but they are expected to be active in any regard.
- Dulac tweets that Colbert acknowledged the unusually flexible position the team is in with regards to cap space, though he stressed that they traditionally don’t spend as much as other teams on the open market. He did, however, seem to “leave [the] door open to spend” this March.
- Pryor reports that the Steelers are open to retaining defensive tackle Stephon Tuitt for next year, the final one on his current contract (Twitter link). The 28-year-old missed the entire 2021 season with a knee injury, and is scheduled to have a cap hit of just under $14MM next year. He has 34.5 sacks in seven seasons, all with the Steelers.
- Finally, Pryor tweets that Pittsburgh has yet to decide whether or not they will pick up linebacker Devin Bush‘s fifth year option. “I think Devin Bush will be a better player in 2022”, Colbert said, referring to his recovery from a torn ACL. It had previously been reported that the team wasn’t picking up the option, but doing so would leave a significant hole in the middle of the team’s defense.
Can’t waste a year of Watt, Heyward and Minkah with a scrub like Rudolph.
Plan A should be to get Pickett if he falls or they can move up or Willis (Tomlin likes him, this would be my bet if I had to place one on who their next QB will be).
If not, use some of that cap space on a veteran, even if it’s not a star.
The locker room will know the season is over before it starts if Rudolph is the guy.
Pickett is not the answer. Neither is Willis. No QB will be good from this class
I think that the locker room already knows that Rudolph isn’t the answer. With all of the talk around who the starting quarterback of the team should be, I have yet to hear anyone in the team speak up on Rudolph’s behalf… and Colbert’s comments today don’t count, because honestly, what else was he going to say? Add to that the fact that Roethlisberger rarely if ever complimented or endorsed Rudolph (and I’ve read rumors that Ben didn’t like Mason personally, although they’re nothing more than rumors). My own conclusion has been that either the locker room has no faith in Rudolph, or Rudolph’s personality has alienated everyone in the locker room, or both.
Ben submarined Rudolph because he’s a jerk. That’s what Ben does.
If you don’t want to waste a year then drafting Willis isn’t the solution. Even if he ends up being good he is going to need at least a season of development.
Yeah, my comment morphed from what they should do into that but with some predicting what they might do mixed in.
Obviously Willis doesn’t help in the short term, just noting that this is the most likely scenario out of many.
The very first time I heard buzz about the Steelers drafting a QB in the first round during the Ben era was Mahomes. He was ranked near the middle to end of the first round at the time and word was the Steelers really wanted him. He moved up to #11 and KC and the rest is history.
So, if Tomlin likes Willis that much (I don’t watch college football, so I have no idea) it might be worth the lost year.
The QB most ready from this class and had the skill set the Steelers are looking for us Desmond Ridder. Draft an oline man, corner, LB or d lineman best available in 1st round and trade up in 2nd round to get Ridder… Pickett’s small hands are a concern, Willis leadership skills and throwing motion need a lot of work, Corral has a small body frame that may not hold up to being hit, Howell needs a kit of work on reading defense s, Strong lacks mobility… Ridder has less warts and is closest to being NFL ready and won’t require a 1st round pick…
I looked into Ridder after reading your comment. Impressive.
So.. as a Bengals fan ! Please let it be Mason Rudolph or Carson Wentz!
Bush was better when they had better a DL. Their lack of DL depth exposed every weakness on the team. A healthy Tuitt and Alualu abd a draft pick could have the D ranked #1 again.
The Steelers are one the few organizations that actually learn from other teams mistakes so they know from watching inept teams like the Lions and Jets that the quick fix approach rarely succeeds. They’ll take time with their rebuild and get it right. It’s not like their in any danger of losing fans to the putrid Pirates.
Watch them make a stealth move for a good QB.