With quarterback injuries piling up through the first two weeks, the Pittsburgh Steelers suddenly find themselves sitting on something a lot of teams could use: extra depth at the game’s most important position.
That surplus has put Mason Rudolph in the trade conversation, and the New York Giants are the team most directly tied to him after Jaxson Dart’s knee injury in Week 2. Dart’s return this season is still up in the air, which makes the Giants’ need at quarterback even more pressing.
Pittsburgh’s unusual decision to carry four quarterbacks on the active roster now looks like a possible advantage. Aaron Rodgers is the starter, Rudolph sits behind him on the depth chart, and the Steelers also have second-year Will Howard and rookie Drew Allar. Of that group, Rudolph is the name drawing the most interest as a potential trade piece.
Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report pointed to the Giants as a possible landing spot for Rudolph, and said the Steelers could at least get something back if a deal comes together. According to Knox, Rudolph could bring back a conditional 2027 sixth-round pick.
“With quarterback injuries mounting around the NFL, Pittsburgh might get the opportunity to get something in return for Rudolph,” Knox wrote. “The list of Week 1 starters we’ve seen injured now includes Sam Darnold, Jayden Daniels, Jaxson Dart, and Caleb Williams,” he noted further.
For now, the Giants are expected to turn to Jameis Winston with Dart sidelined. Winston has also signed a two-year $13 million extension, a sign the Giants want him in the fold. Still, the team may need another arm if it wants to stay competitive this season, and Rudolph would give them a veteran stopgap if Pittsburgh decides to deal him.
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