“They Could’ve Drafted Patrick Mahomes”: Ben Roethlisberger Gets Honest About the Steelers’ Drafting Mason Rudolph in 2018

Franchise quarterbacks often hold significant sway over team decisions, especially when it comes to offensive personnel, and even more so at the quarterback position.

These star players typically expect to have a voice in such matters, so its no surprise they bristle when the front office brings in a potential successor or even a backup without consulting them, particularly as they near the twilight of their careers.History has shown this pattern time and again: Brett Favre wasnt thrilled when the Packers drafted Aaron Rodgers.

Years later, Rodgers himself took issue when Green Bay selected Jordan Love.

The Steelers brought in Mason Rudolph, and it didnt please Ben Roethlisberger.However, Big Bens issue wasnt with Mason Rudolph personally.

While he wasnt thrilled with the decision, he also wasnt threatened by it.

Roethlisberger didnt view Rudolpha third-round pickas a serious challenge to his position.

Rather, he saw it as the Steelers taking a low-risk chance on a developmental quarterback for the future.I made comments.

Why did we draft Mason? It wasnt a shot at Mason.

I didnt have a problem with Mason.

They couldve drafted Patrick Mahomes.

It wasnt a shot at the person.

It was how are we making our team better by drafting a guy in the 3rd round thats going to be a backup QB? How is that helping the team? The guy may not see the field.

Go find a need in the 3rd round.

What are you all doing? How is that helping our team win a championship now?, he revealed on his podcast Footbahlin.That said, the implications of a first-round pick wouldve been entirely different.

When a team drafts a quarterback earlyespecially in the first roundwhile already having an established franchise QB, it sends a clear message: its ready to move on, and the veteran doesnt have much time left.But the question remains.Could the Steelers have drafted Patrick Mahomes in 2017?The 2017 NFL Draft wasnt exactly overflowing with quarterback talent, but among the few available, Mahomes stood out as the crown jewel.

Several teams had their eyes on himincluding the Broncos, Cardinals, and Giantsbut it was the Chiefs who ultimately landed the future two-time MVP.Kansas City selected Mahomes 10th overall.

The Steelers, on the other hand, held the 30th pick that year, well behind the Chiefs.

Originally, Kansas City had the 27th pick, but they knew Mahomes wouldnt be available by then.

So, they made a bold move and traded up.To secure the 10th pick from the Buffalo Bills, the Chiefs gave up their first- and third-round picks in 2017, along with their first-rounder in 2018.

It was a hefty price, but one they were willing to pay for their quarterback of the future.For the Steelers to make a similar move, they wouldve had to offer even morelikely an additional pick or twojust to leapfrog Kansas City or match their offer.

Given the capital required, its understandable why Pittsburgh didnt, or couldnt, pull the trigger.Had the Steelers decided to trade up for Patrick Mahomes in 2017, they likely wouldve missed out on drafting T.J.

Watt, who they selected 30th overall that year.

And looking at their draft strategy around that time, its clear Pittsburgh wasnt particularly eager to spend a first-round pick on a quarterback.

They took Joshua Dobbs in the fourth round in 2017 and followed that up by selecting Mason Rudolph in the third round of the 2018 draft.At the time, the Steelers seemed to believe Rudolph could eventually take over as the franchise quarterback.

When Ben Roethlisberger retired in 2021, Rudolph had already been with the team for three years, and it appeared to be his opportunity to step up.

But that moment never came.Instead, the Steelers signed Mitch Trubisky and drafted Kenny Pickett in the first round.

During his six seasons in Pittsburgh, Rudolph played in just 21 games, starting 13 of them.

He threw for a little over 3,000 yards with 19 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, posting an 841 record as a starter.

After a brief stint in Tennessee, hes now back in Pittsburgh, set to back up Aaron Rodgers for the upcoming season.

It seems Rudolph has embraced his role as a veteran backup QB.The post They Couldve Drafted Patrick Mahomes: Ben Roethlisberger Gets Honest About the Steelers Drafting Mason Rudolph in 2018 appeared first on The SportsRush..

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