Mark Madden: Steelers would be smart to keep Mitch Trubisky and vice versa

As the Steelers ponder their future at backup quarterback, Mitch Trubisky likely is pondering whether he wants to stay in Pittsburgh.

Trubisky has a year left on his contract, so he has no choice if the Steelers insist. But coach Mike Tomlin wants volunteers, not hostages.

Trubisky’s base salary for 2023 is $8 million — pricey but not absurd. He’s a reliable backup. What if Kenny Pickett doesn’t progress as hoped in his second year? What if he proves brittle in the context of the NFL grind? Pickett already has been concussed twice.

Pickett is still on his rookie deal. His salary-cap hit for 2023 is $3.2 million.

Between Pickett and Trubisky, the Steelers wouldn’t be spending too much on quarterbacks.

So there’s good reason to keep Trubisky.

But does Trubisky have good reason to stay?

Trubisky likely feels lied to by Tomlin, a man of peerless integrity if you don’t bother adding up all the instances like this one. It’s what coaches do.

Trubisky figured to start at least through the bye week. Eight games. A real chance was a big part of what convinced him to sign with the Steelers.

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But Tomlin panicked when the Steelers stood 1-2 and trailed the visiting New York Jets at halftime of Week 4. Tomlin was further inflamed when Trubisky got in a locker-room argument with receiver Diontae Johnson, a Tomlin favorite.

So Tomlin inserted Pickett despite him being minimally prepared.

It worked out OK. Pickett made progress. Him starting was inevitable. Bad stats aside, Pickett looks like a proper NFL quarterback. The Steelers finished strong, going 9-8 and just missing the playoffs.

Trubisky never was going to be the long-term starter, not even if the Steelers had waited till this year to draft a quarterback.

But was Trubisky misled?

If so, hey, football is a tough business.

Just ask Mason Rudolph.

Rudolph was supposed to be involved in legitimate competition for the starting job. But it was apparent that said competition wasn’t legit as soon as training camp started.

Rudolph feels deceived. He definitely won’t be staying.

But, hey, football is a tough business. If Rudolph ever believed he might start, he’s a fool.

But several Steelers have felt hard done by in similar fashion: running back LeGarrette Blount in 2014. Outside linebacker James Harrison in 2017. Outside linebacker Melvin Ingram in 2021. Each got chapped over lack of snaps. Each left during the season in progress. What were they promised?

But, hey, football is a tough business.

Coaches lie all the time. Maybe renege is a better word.

If Tomlin is no better, OK. But that makes him just like all the rest. Tomlin is said to be a players’ coach. It looks like that depends on the player.

Meanwhile, the Steelers must deal with their backup quarterback situation.

The best thing for the team is to keep Trubisky. It’s probably best for Trubisky, too. He won’t get $8 million anywhere else. (That would be his biggest NFL payday.) Trubisky also won’t get a legit shot to start anywhere else, not that he’d get that in Pittsburgh this coming season.

If the Steelers want to cut Trubisky’s pay to gain cap space, that’s a different story. If Trubisky is leaning toward the exit door, that might push him through.

Trubisky didn’t play great but also didn’t stink. Trubisky’s passer rating, completion percentage, touchdown percentage and yards per attempt were better than Pickett’s. Trubisky helped counsel Pickett during games.

The Steelers should pay Trubisky what they’re currently committed to pay. That’s the least the Steelers could do.

Jacoby Brissett, who played with Cleveland this past season, is a possible replacement if Trubisky departs. So is Josh Dobbs, an ex-Steeler and Tomlin favorite who started and lost Tennessee’s last two games this past season. Those are Dobbs’ only two NFL starts. Brissett or Dobbs each would come cheaper than Trubisky.

But what makes the Steelers best, and affords them stability, is for Pickett to be backed up by Trubisky. Tomlin should make that happen. It’s the right thing.