The 2023 season has come to a close, and the Steelers are now headed into the long offseason. Before moving on to draft preparation, head coach Mike Tomlin took to the podium on Thursday to address the media one last time for the last scheduled press conference until the draft. With plenty of questions asked by those in attendance, it is once again time for a players mentioned article. Remember these are players where a specific question was asked during the Q&A period.

Kenny Pickett

Coach Tomlin was asked if Kenny Pickett will resume his QB1 status.

“You know, he will, but obviously, there will be competition. There’s always competition in this thing. We don’t anoint anyone. Man, I’m appreciative of his efforts and where he is and excited about continuing to work with him. But certainly, he will be challenged from a competition perspective moving forward. Competition brings the best out in all of us.”

Coach Tomlin was asked his confidence level in Kenny Pickett, not just on the field but with being the quarterback and captain.

“I’m extremely confident in him. I feel stronger about some of the intangible things than I did obviously when we first started doing business with him because I have evidence of it. He’s highly competitive and professional. He doesn’t run from challenges, he runs to challenges. I think that’s evident in the way he plays, particularly at the end of close football games. He’s got a good framework to work with and for a young guy he’s mature beyond his years. I’m excited about him.”

In a follow-up question, Coach Tomlin was asked if Pickett is at the point of his career where some of his improvements need to be tangible.

“Certainly, it’s a big year for him. We met this morning, and we acknowledge that. It is a huge year for him. But I’m also excited about just watching him wear that component of it because I just, I know how he’s wired and built and I’m excited about watching him attack it.”

In a later question, Coach Tomlin was asked if when looking for an offensive coordinator how much of it is based on trying to get the best out of Pickett.

“It’s a significant component of it. This game is quarterback-driven. Offenses are quarterback driven. And so, their expertise in that area is a significant component of the search from my perspective.”

In a later question, Coach Tomlin was asked if it was difficult for Pickett the last couple of weeks not playing and how he thinks he handled it.

“It certainly was difficult. I was really impressed with the way he handled it. He was really professional and supportive of Mason (Rudolph). He was a great teammate. But no question that was difficult. He’s a competitor. He runs to it not away from it. And, you know, certainly, I know he wanted that experience, those big divisional games down the stretch and things of that nature. He’s wired in that way.”

Coach Tomlin was asked if he is considering bringing in a veteran quarterback to act as a mentor to Pickett.

“You know, I’m speculating at this juncture,and I want to stay away from that. I hadn’t had any legitimate conversations about building for 2024 at this point. And so, you know, I’m trying to stay away from some of those speculative things.”

Mason Rudolph

Coach Tomlin was asked if it is the hope of the franchise that Mason Rudolph will be back and providing quarterback competition.

“It is, but he is a free agent, and it is free agency. And so, we’ll see where that leads us.”

In a later question, Coach Tomlin was asked if he expects the competition at quarterback to be between Rudolph and Pickett or if he’s trying to bring someone else in via the draft or free agency.

“Again, we got a lot of decisions regarding free agency. Mason (Rudolph) is scheduled to be a free agent. And so, I’d be speculating about some of those things.”

Coach Tomlin was asked if Mason Rudolph changed Tomlin’s perception of what he might be capable of this year.

“Oh certainly. I don’t think that any of us can deny what we’ve seen over the last month or so. I cannot underscore how impressive it is to be ready. Forget performance man, to be ready, to deliver and he was. And that preparedness showed. And so, certainly. You know we’re less speculative about his capabilities because there’s evidence of it. And evidence of it in tough circumstances.”

In a follow-up question, Coach Tomlin was asked if Rudolph being the third quarterback yet giving their best results of the season gives him pause in how they looked at the position over the last several years.

“No, oftentimes I say there’s a fine line between being a Pro Bowler and a backup in our business and it is. And so, you know, I’m not surprised by anything that has transpired man. He is very capable. They all are across positions. I just think that when you’re at the tip top of the food chain, that’s how it is. And it’s our job as professionals man to be ready and to let our talent show. He did those things.”

In a later question, Coach Tomlin was asked if the approach was more aggressive in games where Rudolph was the quarterback and if the playcalling changed significantly.

“You know, he performed very well. But our intentions were our intentions, you know. There was no tomorrow. And so, we were aggressive in nature and in about every component of what it is that we did over that stretch.”

Coach Tomlin was later asked about bringing in outside free agents for the quarterback competition and in his response he mentioned Mason Rudolph.

“Again, I’d be speculating at this juncture. We’re just at the early stages of it. I will acknowledge obviously, that Mason Rudolph is scheduled to be a free agent and we do have interest in doing continual business with him. The rest of it man, is kind of speculative at this point.”

Diontae Johnson

Coach Tomlin was asked about if statements such as Diontae Johnson saying he hopes Mason Rudolph gets the quarterback job would create a situation that would potentially divide the team.

“I do not. I think competition is good. I think it’s good for all of us. I think it brings out the best in all of us.”

Mitch Trubisky

Coach Tomlin was asked where things are with Mitch Trubisky from the franchise’s point of view.

“I haven’t met with Mitch (Trubisky) yet. And so, we’re at the very early stages of some of that stuff. We’ll see where the road leads us.”

Broderick Jones

Coach Tomlin was asked if he views Broderick Jones as his left tackle for next season or if he thinks he’ll stay on the right side.

“Undecided as of yet. Obviously, he has capabilities in that area, but he was more than capable at right tackle as well.”

Cole Holcomb

Coach Tomlin was asked if he expects to have Cole Holcomb back by training camp.

“He has a target date in terms of readiness there, but it’s still probably early. I’ll have a more definitive posture on that probably when we get closer to OTAs and we start speculating about some of those things then.”

Cam Heyward

Coach Tomlin was asked about wanting a player like Cam Heyward to experience a championship now before he is gone.

“I think I always move in that urgency. You know, I think you can point to guys like that annually that are deserving of being champions and you want them to have that taste. It’s probably one of my biggest regrets professionally is that Maurkice Pouncey, for example is not a world champion because that guy is. And so, that is a motivating factor for me certainly, but continually it is.”

Joey Porter Jr.

Coach Tomlin was asked about his confidence in Joey Porter and his progress throughout the year to take on the other team’s best receivers.

“I’m really excited about the trajectory of his career. Probably the most impressive component of where he is, is his mindset. He wants the fight. He wants the tough coverage. He’s extremely competitive in that way. And that’s a great place to build from. He’s got growth obviously ahead of him but that’s real solid.”

Najee Harris

Coach Tomlin was asked how he assesses Najee Harris’ performance through his first several seasons, especially with his fifth-year option decision looming.

“Man, he’s been what we needed him to be. I read a stat, I think you know, he’s 1000-yard rusher three straight years and how scarce that is. And I just think that speaks to his consistency, availability. He’s been really solid.”

Patrick Peterson

Coach Tomlin was asked if he expects Patrick Peterson back next year and if he would be a safety or a cornerback.

“Again,you know, we’re really at the infancy of these things. I did meet with Pat (Peterson), we had a good exit interview. I’m really appreciative of his experience and professionalism and who he is as a man and player, what he’s willing to do. But from a decision-making standpoint, we’re just really at the infancy of it all from that standpoint.”

Allen Robinson & Elandon Roberts

Coach Tomlin was asked about last offseason signing more free agents than ever before. In his response, he mentioned Allen Robinson and Elandon Roberts.

“Again, we’re really at the very infancy of planning. We’re open to doing business, certainly, and utilizing all things at our disposal to put together a strong group. We had some success in free agency last year. But as I’ve mentioned repeatedly in the past, oftentimes our interest in free agency really is just a continuation of draft interest that we might have had in some in someone. I think back to a decade ago man meeting Allen Robinson and his family up at Penn State at his pro day. Kevin Colbert and I stood in a parking lot and talked to Elandon Roberts and his parents for an hour after the Houston Pro Day when he came out eight or so years ago. And so, we’re certainly players and open to being players in free agency. But we like to track these guys. We like to track these guys as far back as we can track them and have that background, that knowledge of who they are. And usually that’s the basis of our interest.”

Pat Freiermuth

In a follow-up question about players who emerged as leaders over the season, Coach Tomlin was asked to give an example of one of the players who was rising through the ranks.

“Man, I was really impressed by (Pat) Freiermuth down the stretch for example.”

George Pickens

Coach Tomlin was asked how George Pickens has grown and matured.

“It has been in all areas. In football and in life, but there’s a lot of meat on that bone and I’m excited about continuing to be a component of that process with him.”

Keeanu Benton

Coach Tomlin was asked if he feels that he’s got something with Keeanu Benton in the middle of the defense.

“It’s interesting, I just had an exit interview with him. I’m really excited about the prospects of his future. He’s really talented. I think he’s capable of being dominant sooner rather than later. And so, the question is how quickly can we make that happen and what are our roles in doing so. And so, we just had a real good conversation about what that looks like foundationally and how do we build.”

Eric Rowe & Myles Jack

Coach Tomlin was asked if he feels like the relationship with “off the couch” guys of Eric Rowe and Myles Jack could continue next year.

“Certainly.”

DeMarvin Leal

Coach Tomlin was asked if there is a plan or a path for DeMarvin Leal to move forward as a regular contributor after he was inactive most games at the end of the season.

“There certainly is, but he’s got to be a component of that. Obviously, we put helmets on guys that we think are best positioned to help us secure victory and he hadn’t been a component of that. And so, he’s got some work to do.”

Pressley Harvin

Coach Tomlin was asked if punter is a position that he’s looking to maybe improve next year.

“You know, I’ll acknowledge that Pressley (Harvin) wasn’t consistent enough particularly down the stretch.”

Mike Tomlin’s complete press conference can be seen here:

Coach Tomlin speaks to the media.@PNCBank | More on https://t.co/XL7UQsbZDF https://t.co/mSmZoTxcu2

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) January 18, 2024