Why he’s a backup: Will Levis did enough as a rookie in 2023 to earn the Week 1 starting role in 2024.
Why it might not stay that way: Levis started hot with 130-plus passer ratings in two of his first four games, but he completed fewer than 60 percent of his passes in his final five starts and posted a sub-80 rating. He likely won’t be able to keep the starting role long if that continues into 2024.
Why he can flourish: Mason Rudolph might not have done much overall during his six years in Pittsburgh, but the talent is there and he’s still only 28 years of age. What’s more, he’s coming off a short stretch with the Steelers in which he was pretty impressive in 2023. The odds might still not be in his favor, but wilder things happen in this league every year.