The Steelers Best And Most Realistic Options To Challenge Kenny Pickett In 2024

The Pittsburgh Steelers currently only have Kenny Pickett and Mitch Trubisky under contract at quarterback for the 2024 NFL season, and there is a clear desire and need to bring in someone else to compete with Pickett for the starting job. Trubisky showed that he isn't capable of providing competition with his horrific play in 2023, and there's a strong chance he is cut before the 2024 season. The organization has made it clear they will do what they can to bring back Mason Rudolph, but if they can't, they need to find another veteran quarterback to join the roster. 

Steelers' 2024 Quarterback Options

There is a strong desire from Steelers fans to see the organization make a big splash at the quarterback position in the 2024 offseason. Kirk Cousins will be a free agent, Russell Wilson is expected to be released from the Denver Broncos and will be a free agent, and Justin Fields will likely be available via trade from the Chicago Bears. 

Cousins will be too expensive and Fields will probably cost too much in a trade. Wilson is the most realistic option out of the three, but it is hard to imagine the Steelers bringing in that big of a name while still trying to give Pickett an opportunity. The following are options for the Steelers that won't be too expensive, can be effective, and could provide good competition for Pickett without taking his job as soon as they touch down in Pittsburgh.

Ryan Tannehill Or Marcus Mariota

Both Ryan Tannehill and Marcus Mariota seem like obvious candidates to join the Steelers in 2024 due to the recent hiring of Arthur Smith as the team's new offensive coordinator. Both quarterbacks played under Smith with the Tennessee Titans, and Mariota was Smith's starting quarterback with the Atlanta Falcons in 2022. These two quarterbacks are free agents during the 2024 offseason, and they should have a relatively cheap price tag. 

Tannehill is coming off of a contract where he was making $29.5 million a season, and he is projected to earn a contract worth just under $5 million. Coincidentally, this is exactly what Mariota earned with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2023. Tannehill is much better than Mariota, and is the clear number one option between the two. With Smith as his offensive coordinator during the 2019 and 2020 NFL seasons, Tannehill threw for over 6,500 yards and 55 touchdowns to just 13 interceptions in 26 starts. He is a consistent, safe quarterback who would be good competition for Pickett. 

Drew Lock

Drew Lock was a second-round pick to the Broncos in the 2019 NFL Draft, but was traded to the Seattle Seahawks ahead of the 2022 NFL season. He has been the backup to Geno Smith for the past two seasons, stepping in occasionally. In a game where Smith could not play due to injury in 2023, Lock stepped in and started a primetime game against the Eagles and led the Seahawks down the field before throwing the game-winning touchdown with just under 30 seconds left. 

Lock has proven he is a capable backup quarterback that can play well enough for the team to still win games even without their starting quarterback. That is an important trait for the Steelers, since Pickett has been unable to finish four different starts so far in his career. Lock would also be good offseason competition for Pickett that wouldn't be too expensive. 

Sam Darnold

San Francisco 49ers backup quarterback Sam Darnold is probably the best, most realistic option for the Steelers to bring in. He would be cheap as his current contract is worth $4.5 million. If Darnold has the desire to be a starting quarterback in the NFL, he would have a better chance of accomplishing that goal in Pittsburgh rather than re-signing with the 49ers. The 49ers seem to have their franchise quarterback in Brock Purdy, so Darnold will have the choice in the 2024 offseason of whether or not he wants to be a career backup quarterback or have a realistic chance to start elsewhere. 

Darnold played in relief of Purdy a few times in 2023, and threw meaningful passes in two games. He finished with a rating of 85.1 while throwing two touchdowns, running for another, and throwing an interception. Darnold could play well in a quarterback friendly offense like Smith's, and would certainly keep Pickett on his toes in a quarterback competition.