MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACK

What team is going to bring Mason in to compete for a starting job? I don't see one but I could be wrong. He could be in a similar scenario as last year where he's without a job into May and goes back to be a #3 in Pittsburgh.

I don't want to take away from the fact that Mason made some timely throws last year. He did. But more than anything he showed how little the Steelers want from the position . They want to run it, control the clock and move the sticks. Take a shot downfield every now and then. They didn't ask him to do much and to his credit he filled the role they wanted him to fill pretty well. But that was against teams that don't light up the scoreboard. When they go up against the teams that can put points on the board they will need a QB who can do more.

I don't think that's realistic for a few reasons. 1. They don't want to give up on Kenny that early. 2. Unlike a lot of teams they value having 3 capable QBs on the roster and 3. They are paying him peanuts and are 14 months from having to make a decision on his future. Wexell had a good Dan Rooney quote in his piece today, "If you have a significant decision to make, let it marinate. Being first isn't as important as being right."

 

Meh... I wouldn't lay any money down on that.

I think Wilson will thrive in Pittsburgh, unfortunately. Baker Mayfield would have been worse case scenario for me, because I like the kid, but for the team.. this is probably truly worse case scenario. I know he struggled in Denver two years ago and he and Payton didn't get along. Reality is, he has played at a very high level, including last season. With Pickens, Johnson and Friermuth, he has weapons as well. If they manage to get a top WR in the first round of the draft, this could be a different Steelers offense in 2024. That's bad news for the rest of the division. Once again, the AFC North is adding up to the best division in the NFL on paper... we all know paper don't mean shit, but last year if the Bengals stayed healthy, there probably would have been 4 teams from the North in the playoffs.

I don't see any situation where Rudolph is brought in to be a starter without competition. What team is he going to go and start the entire season? We will have more to talk about when he finds a home, but if he was asking for low grade starter money, then he might not find a home.

At the end of the day, the Steelers probably didn't feel that Mason Rudolph brought anything to the table in the form of helping Pickett grow. It isn't another QBs job to do that, but even if it's "lead by example", Wilson can do more in one season with the Steelers than Rudolph was able to do in two, imo. That might not be the end game, but at the very least, at age 35 Wilson isn't the long term solution.

 

Thats why they should retain him if they can. If and when his phone isnt ringing off the hook, he might as well take what he can get in Pittsburgh, IF they leave the door open, but I do see a market for Rudolph elsewhere.

 

Not necessarily a starter, but at least he would be considered a valuable backup to a few teams in my opinion. If he gets an offer to backup somewhere and with all the injuries, who knows what he could land up in.

 

Yes, but even if he is brought in as a valuable backup, he would have to have an early injury to outperform Wilson. I assumed since you said "outperform" them both, you were insinuating he would be starting elsewhere, or in the Steelers camp and would win the job.

 

I was vague. It was just a tounge-in-cheek kick at Wilson and Pickett if and only if the Steelers sign Mason and they had a 3-way competition, which is unlikely now.

 

Speaking of opportunities for Rudolph, there may be room and interest in Minnesota, Denver, Atalanta and the New York Jets...

 

Very well could be. I think Mason Rudolph gets put on the back burner until post-draft. He will be the JJ McCarthy type signing bridge QB. That's the best opportunity he could hope for, imo. Hell, at this point, McCarthy might even be too high profile to sign Rudolph as gap insurance. There will definitely be a spot for him somewhere, I just don't think it will be the opportunity he is looking for when it's all said and done.

 

What do the Vikings do now?

 

Start at square 1.... again. Better trade up and snag the best they can, they have no choice, but thats my take maybe not Kwesi's. If they dont trade up for a QB they have shit for brains.

 

Agreed... and I think Mason is smart enough to realize this and just settle for the best spot offered. He will get another shot, imo, because QB's are an uncertainty with injuries these days and everybody needs some QB depth. He'll get a shot someday, he just has to be patient.

 

Seems like it. Maybe get Rudolph to bridge while at it but Vikings need to draft a QB this year or next and this year is a good year to get one PROBABLY. Also NFLN calling Kirk nothing more than a bridge...okay there. It could end up that way but that isn't what Atlanta's doing. They are opening a competitive window to win the division and be able to win playoff games while they still have some studs on both sides of the ball.

 

Im shocked they went 4 years and I bet at big cash too... talk about a gamble.

 

It's 2 years plus $10M on year 3 which is peanuts if they wanted to move on. Year 4 means nothing more than team control.

 

$180M I just read, thats crazy, good for him. He's the NFL's all-time leading negotiator.

 

Move on draft a QB yeah his stats are mind blowing but he's just mediocre been in Minnesota 6yrs just one playoff win with the Vikings time for the Vikings to move on bye bye

 

Raiders land Gardner Minshew

Now that he’s going to be a Raider, it’s felt as if quarterback Gardner Minshew was always destined to be a Raider.

Via NFL Media, Minshew has agreed to terms with the Raiders on a two-year deal. It’s reportedly a $25 million contract, with $15 million fully guaranteed at signing.

And while it’s being characterized as a situation in which Minshew will compete with Aidan O’Connell, Minshew also could be a placeholder for whoever the Raiders draft in round one — if/when they do. Coach Antonio Pierce has made it clear that he wants a long-term answer at the position, not a Band-Aid.

Minshew, who entered the league as a sixth-round pick in 2019, has played for the Jaguars, Eagles, and Colts. He took Indianapolis to the brink of the playoffs last year, after starter Anthony Richardson suffered a season-ending shoulder injury.

He’s usually beloved my teammates. He’s loose, funny, engaging. If he’s the starter in Las Vegas, he’ll make the Raiders fun to watch.

@dirk275

 

Absolutely. They are going all out to win the division Right Freaking Now. To put it in perspective, the defense went from #27 in 2022 to #11 in 2023. The entire starting offensive line is back. The running game has Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier. Cousins will be throwing to Drake London and Kyle Pitts, others TBD.

The missing piece is the QB. They're banking on Cousins being the answer, at least for the next year or two.

 

According to Rappaport, 1 year $8M. Worth up to $12M with incentives.

 

Glad he got a bag of cash. The Colts had a garbage D. I think Minshew had alot to do with them winning 9 games. What's the MILF scene like in Vegas because Gardner's in town.