According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Pittsburgh Steelers are expected to look into signing quarterback
Ryan Tannehill this offseason to compete with Kenny Pickett.
Tannehill is set to become a free agent after spending the last five seasons with the Tennessee Titans. The Steelers
hired Arthur Smith as offensive coordinator last week. Smith served as Tannehill’s offensive coordinator in
Tennessee for two seasons before taking over as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons for the final three.
In January, at his season-ending news conference, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin stated that he wanted
competition for Pickett next season. Pickett missed the rest of the season due to an ankle ailment, and he was
benched in the playoffs when healthy in favor of backup Mason Rudolph.
Rudolph is a free agent, and Tomlin did not want to start training camp without a second quarterback to fight for the
position.
Pickett will enter the third year of his four-year, $14 million rookie contract, which he signed after the Steelers
selected him in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He started 13 games as a rookie, and 12 in 2023.
Pickett threw six touchdowns and four interceptions in 12 games, completing 62% of his throws for an average of
172.5 yards per game. He has seven touchdowns and nine interceptions as a rookie.
In 2023, the Steelers were ranked 25th in the NFL in total and passing offense, and 28th in points scored. Pittsburgh
advanced to the playoffs as a wild card despite its offensive woes, owing in large part to a defense that forced 27
turnovers. They fell in the first round to the Buffalo Bills.
Tannehill, 35, was prolific throughout his five seasons with the Titans. In 63 games with the Titans, he threw 90
touchdowns and 40 interceptions while completing 66.6% of his throws for an average of 215.6 yards. Tennessee
selected quarterback Will Levis in the second round of last year’s draft and anointed him the starter for the second h
alf of the season as it sought to transition to the future.
