As the Steelers open training camp, the quarterback picture behind Aaron Rodgers is still messy, and that’s putting it mildly. Rodgers is trying to make what could be his final NFL season count, but Pittsburgh has a real decision to make with the rest of the depth chart.
Mason Rudolph, Drew Allar and Will Howard are all in the mix for two roster spots, and unless the Steelers go the “phantom injury” route to keep all four, someone is going to be left out. That’s the kind of choice that usually gets easier with time. This one doesn’t.
Ben Roethlisberger thinks the answer is obvious.
On a recent episode of his Footbahlin' podcast, the former Steelers quarterback said the team should lean into youth and keep both Allar and Howard.
"You want to have two young guys because one of those could be your potential quarterback of the next five to 10 years," he said. "Potentially, I'm not saying either one is or isn't a franchise guy, but could be. I think the smartest thing is to keep those two guys because I think Aaron says he's done after this year."
Roethlisberger framed it as a simple numbers decision. Pittsburgh could choose the safer, more familiar route and keep a veteran behind Rodgers, but he doesn’t see that as the best play.
"I think that's the smartest move because if you dealt one of them and kept Mason and Player A, whoever it may be, you're putting a lot of eggs in that one basket," he explained. "Now, if you have two young guys, they're only a year apart, very similar in styles, now you're like 'We can put half our eggs in this basket, half in this basket, see how they do, let them compete."
He has also never been especially high on Rudolph. That was true when the Steelers drafted Rudolph in 2018 as a possible successor to Roethlisberger, and it’s still true now.
The argument from the other side is clear enough: if Rodgers is the starter, the backup matters, and Rudolph brings experience. But the source of this reporting makes the same point Roethlisberger is making - if Rodgers is unavailable or doesn’t play well, Pittsburgh’s season is in trouble anyway. Rudolph isn’t the fix, and if Allar or Howard aren’t the answer either, the problem doesn’t go away.
What does remain is the possibility that one of the young quarterbacks develops into a real starter. The 2026 season could be a key step in that process, but only if the Steelers move on from Rudolph and let the younger pair stay in the mix.
In Other News...
Steelers Camp Battle Is Brewing At Their Deepest Defensive Spot
The Steelers deepest defensive spot is suddenly one of their most interesting camp storylines, and it starts with a pass-rush group that already looks crowded on paper. T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith remain the headliners, Nick Herbig has earned a bigger seat at the table after his new contract, and Jack Sawyer is trying to carve out a real role in his second season after flashing enough to keep the conversation going.
For defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, the challenge is less about finding talent than finding enough snaps to keep everyone involved and fresh. One answer could be leaning into three-edge rusher looks, a wrinkle that would let the Steelers put more of their best pressure players on the field at once while also giving Sawyer a chance to prove he belongs in the rotation rather than getting lost behind the veterans. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Camp Battle On The Defensive Line Just Got Real
With training camp approaching, the Steelers roster looks largely settled, but the defensive line is one spot where things still feel open. Under coach Mike McCarthy, Pittsburgh is expected to bring most of its 53-man group back intact, yet the trench competition has enough moving parts to make this one of the more interesting battles on the roster, with a handful of veterans and rookies chasing what could be one or two available jobs.
Gabriel Rubio, Kevin Jobity and Logan Lee are all in the mix on the young side, while Esezi Otomewo and Dean Lowry give the Steelers experienced alternatives if they want a steadier hand. Rubio enters as the name to watch because of his run defense at Notre Dame, Jobity offers more of a pass-rush profile as an undrafted rookie, and Lee already has some pro experience, but the final shape of this group still has to be sorted out once camp starts. [Read more 🡒]