MAY 19: Trubisky’s new deal will guarantee him $8MM this year, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com tweets. From 2023-25, Pittsburgh’s backup quarterback will be tied to a $19.4MM base package, Rapoport notes (via Twitter). More incentives are present in this deal, with Rapoport adding Trubisky can earn up to $33MM on it. The Steelers have since confirmed the through-2025 extension.
MAY 18: The Steelers are arranging the seats in their quarterback room this week. Shortly after agreeing to terms on a third Mason Rudolph contract, the team is moving toward a Mitch Trubisky extension.
Second-year GM Omar Khan said during an appearance on the Pat McAfee Show the team is working on an extension with its backup quarterback (video link). Indicating the deal will be done shortly, Khan is prepared to continue the Steelers’ relationship with a quarterback initially signed during Kevin Colbert‘s final months as GM.
The deal is done, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets. The move will push Trubisky’s contract beyond 2023 and reduce the quarterback’s cap number from its present $10.6MM place. It is a two-year extension, which will keep Trubisky tied to the Steelers through 2025.
Trubisky initially agreed to a two-year, $14.3MM deal with incentives that could take it beyond that point. But Kenny Pickett replaced Trubisky as the team’s starter early last season, removing the incentives from the equation. But the former No. 2 overall pick has hovered on the extension radar for a bit. Despite being yanked as the Steelers’ starter, Trubisky is set to remain Pickett’s backup beyond this season.
Multiple teams pursued Trubisky last year, which came after he spent a season as Josh Allen‘s backup in Buffalo. Trubisky is obviously best known for his tenure in Chicago and likely will be unable to change that for the foreseeable future. The Bears traded up to draft the one-year North Carolina starter in 2017, and that move is now remembered for the team passing on Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson. Trubisky fell far short of expectations in the Windy City, and the Bears passed on his fifth-year option — even as that decision did not include a full guarantee at that point — and let him walk in free agency in 2021.
The Steelers’ first Trubisky agreement came a few weeks before the Pickett draft investment, reminding of the Bears’ 2017 plan. Chicago had signed Mike Glennon to a multiyear deal before drafting Trubisky. The ex-Tar Heel replaced Glennon as Chicago’s starter in Week 5 of the 2017 season; Pickett made his first Steelers start in Week 5 of last season.
Trubisky, 28, became needed at points after being supplanted. Pickett sustained two concussions during his rookie season, bringing Trubisky back for a Week 6 relief effort — a win over the Buccaneers — and two December appearances. Trubisky also helped the Steelers to a win over the Panthers, as the team rallied from 2-6 to keep Mike Tomlin‘s .500-or-better streak intact. As a regular starter, Trubisky did not do much to hold off Pickett. But the Steelers clearly value the veteran as their top reserve.
Once Pickett stepped in last October, Pittsburgh’s QB outlook appeared foggy behind its starter. Rudolph played out his second contract and Trubisky could have pursued another free agency route in an attempt to at least earn another crack as a bridge QB. Not unlike Charlie Batch‘s conversion from Lions starter to Steelers backup once upon a time, Trubisky will opt to stick around in Pittsburgh rather than pursuing a quick path that would allow for a starter competition elsewhere.
so easier way to lower his cap hit would’ve been to decline his 10 mil team option they picked up and sign him for league minimum
They wouldn’t be able to sign him for the league minimum. You try that, you may as well say Mason Rudolph is your backup; because if Trubisky is on the open market, I’d venture a guess that at least 12 teams would beat that offer to have him serve as their backup QB.
Name all 12
heck, Id like to see him list 1
Broncos.
Stidham isn’t exactly a quality NFL QB, and Trubs would be an upgrade over him in the event Wilson missed time.
10 million team option is double what he’s worth
Mitch had a better QBR than KP, a better comp %, more yards per attempt, almost as many TD’s and half the INT’s. 10 million is too much, but it’s not double what he’s worth. He’s just as fit to run this offense as the overhyped year 2 QB is, and basically played the same in said system…
I understand that you’re not a Pickett fan but calling the kid “overhyped” is as much a stretch as those who look at the 7-2 finish and the two comeback wins as being indicative of future enshrinement at Canton
Point is, the jury is still out
Look, Pickett threw downfield with ease at Pitt. And he did so often with a helluva lot of success. He was allowed to
It’s been many years since I’ve seen a QB and offense shackled as they were by a coordinator last season
Extremely hard to judge exactly what the kid can do based on last season but my bet is that with an improved O-line and better playbook, he’s going to be fine
Beat the Panthers, the falcons, the browns, and the raiders. Didn’t throw for over 250 once. Never had 2 TDs. This is a passing league… I’m not impressed. Canada gets the blame when Pickett struggled, but Trubisky gets the blame when he himself struggled… Canada didn’t change..
You’re right about Trubisky. Never really understood what went down to make the switch a necessity And regarding that 7-2 run, I’d believe Trubisky could have navigated it all with the same degree of success
That said, I believe Pickett will be a good QB. But as you say, it’s a passing league now and in the era of guys like Mahomes, Burrow, Allen and others, I believe a QB has to be elite to lead a team to the glory land
Nothing I saw from Pickett led me to believe he’s cut from that cloth as of yet. But let me juxtapose for a moment. Would the aforementioned QBs be as great—or anything approaching what they are now—-if Matt Canada’s offense of 2022 was their offense? Doubtful.
Mahomes would 100% be successful in Canada’s system because he’s flat out talented. Burrow I believe to be true as well. I personally don’t hold Allen in that tier. Turnover machine with no run game isn’t a great recipe for success.
I don’t hate KP8 at all, and truly want him to succeed because then the Steelers will, I just hate the narrative from the fans that he’s ‘proven’ himself. When someone points out a mistake people say ‘Well he’s a rookie’ (which is by all accounts an extremely fair assessment). But whenever he goes 7-2 with below average statistics and barely beating bottom barrel franchises all they say is ‘But he won!’. I’m not necessarily saying on this site, or you, but if you ever have been on Steelers Depot it’s a cess-pool for KP8 and you’d think he was a top 3 QB.
I agree with you about having proven himself. In many respects, that finish last year glossed over so many unpleasant truths. Pickett’s evolution was but one point, as well as a porous defensive line, a below average offensive line , a shaky secondary, poor interior linebacking….
It would seem to me that at the very least, Khan and Weidl saw the same things where Colbert before them would have done little
Guess we’ll see.
I understand why it’s mentioned that Mahomes or Watson could have been drafted instead of Trubisky but I don’t understand why it is never pointed out that at the time the Bears were not (and still not) a team that has been constructed right in terms of personnel and coaching and that Mahomes and Watson although talented would have had similar issues had the Bears drafted them?
Watson had two good receivers and a descent o-line in Houston (more to work with) and Mahomes was able to sit almost an entire year and learn a system that has had decades of success in the NFL plus had the likes of Kelce and Hill plus a good running game and another good o-line. Trubisky had Allen Robinson (whom was recovering from a knee injury if memory serves) Jordan Howard and a patch work o-line with one good player (Long) but lacking everywhere else and as mentioned was named the starter by week 5 to only hand off most of the season.
Don’t get me wrong Trubisky did not play well last year but this seems like an alarming issue in the NFL with teams that draft but do not develop talent. I’m doing this it always sets a team back minimum 5 years.
I was thinking the same about Mahommes – he landed in the perfect environment with vet coaching staff and Alex Smith as a mentor.
Yes, KC was a great spot for Mahomes but there’s absolutely no way he or Watson wouldn’t have totally out played Trubisky in Chicago. Pace not drafting Mahomes was a huge blunder. He’s a generational talent that the Bears could’ve built around. It wouldn’t have happened as quickly as KC, but any team in the league would be better with him.
Cleared up about $10M in the last 2 weeks. They’ll sign depth. I’d extend HighSmith
I don’t get keeping both Mitch and Mason. Mitch especially, when getting rid of him saves a cap hit and he has proven he is receiver blind on the field.
He had a better QBR than Pickett, if Mitch is receiver blind then what is KP?
A rookie
A receiver blind rookie *
Yeah, you are right. He has no idea how to find WR. He’s never ever shown that ability. At any level
7 TD 9 INT… College doesn’t matter. Jamarcus Russell was great in college.. Ryan Leaf… Dwayne Haskins… Josh Rosen…. See where I’m getting?
I suppose the Steelers waited until the Pirates went into their recent skid before announcing this exciting news. I wonder if the next update will report the team mascot is being extended.
The Pirates were off on Thursday, which gave the Steelers an opening to announce Trubisky’s extension.