Adjustments have been anticipated on the quarterback place in Pittsburgh, and an unsurprising transfer is going down. Mitch Trubisky is ready to half methods with the group, Mike Garafolo of NFL Community stories. The group has since confirmed the transfer.
Trubisky started his Pittsburgh tenure as a bridge starter, however he was overtaken on the depth chart halfway by Kenny Pickett‘s rookie season. Mason Rudolph then emerged because the group’s most well-liked possibility late within the 2023 marketing campaign and thru the wild-card spherical. In consequence, indicators pointed to Trubisky being let go forward of free company in 2024.
The previous No. 2 decide was on the books for the following two seasons, having inked an extension final 12 months. Regardless of that, the Steelers will elect to chop bait nicely forward of the brand new league 12 months. Releasing Trubisky earlier than June 1 would yield a useless cap cost of $4.6M this 12 months, and cap financial savings of slightly below $3M.
Designating him a post-June 1 launch, nonetheless, would end in $5.25M in financial savings in comparison with a $2.3M useless cap cost. Groups are permitted to make use of the post-June 1 designation early within the offseason, however they don’t notice the monetary financial savings till after that date.
ESPN’s Brooke Pryor confirms this transfer is a mutual one, and it’ll enable Trubisky to hunt out a brand new alternative in a backup function. The 29-year-old made seven begins and 12 appearances with the Steelers, throwing extra interceptions (10) than touchdowns (eight).
These figures helped inform immediately’s transfer, however it’ll little question hinder his market in free company. Trubisky final served as a full-time starter throughout his time with the Bears, which led to 2020.
With Trubisky not within the image and Rudolph a pending free agent, Pickett is the one QB at the moment on the Steelers’ roster. The group stays assured within the latter’s potential, and he’ll enter the offseason atop the depth chart.
Competitors might be introduced in, nonetheless, and that might embody one other new contract with Rudolph or an outdoor addition. Ryan Tannehill — who had a profitable run in Tennessee underneath new Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith — is believed to be on Pittsburgh’s radar.
Trubisky was due $11.25M over the following two seasons, and he’ll intention to discover a deal permitting him to match or higher that whole with a brand new group. He’s youthful than lots of the different choices on this 12 months’s free agent QB class, however his underwhelming displaying in Pittsburgh ought to restrict his market to a low-cost, short-term settlement. It is going to be attention-grabbing to see the place he winds up whereas the Steelers ponder their subsequent transfer underneath middle.
