Pittsburgh Steelers Extending Quarterback Trubisky

Kenny Pickett may have a pretty short leash for the foreseeable future. Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Omar Khan revealed on the Pat McAfee Show on Thursday afternoon that the team is finishing up a two-year extension with quarterback Mitchell Trubisky.

BREAKING: "We're finishing up an extension with Mitch Trubisky and that will be done here shortly" ~ Omar Khan#PMSLive #HereWeGo pic.twitter.com/UVxo2bmYgu
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) May 18, 2023

Trubisky opened the 2022 season as the Steelers' starting quarterback before eventually ceding duties to 2022 first-round pick Kenny Pickett. Trubisky served as Pickett's backup over the remainder of the season, eventually totalling five starts.

Trubisky signed a two-year, $14.3 million deal with the Steelers last offseason to serve as a bridge quarterback, so the Steelers' eagerness to increase their commitment to the former Chicago Bear is notable. Trubisky actually outplayed Pickett in a few key metrics last season, including passer rating (81.1 to 76.7) and net yards per passing attempt (6.20 to 5.34).

Depending on the size of Trubisky's extension, which is not yet official, the transaction could be an indication that the Steelers aren't fully confident Pickett will evolve into a franchise quarterback. Teams don't typically invest heavily in backups unless they have a real chance to see the field. If Trubisky approaches anything close to the money he received on his last deal, Pickett will have no choice but to excel. If he stumbles, the Steelers may look elsewhere as soon as 2024.