The Steelers are at least listening when it comes to Mason Rudolph.
According to Jason La Canfora, who cited NFL executives as sources, Pittsburgh has been very open to moving the veteran quarterback this preseason. The catch, La Canfora noted, is that the backup quarterback market has been crowded, which has made it tough for the Steelers to line up a trade partner.
Rudolph currently sits as the Steelers’ primary backup to Aaron Rodgers, but he’s part of a quarterback room that includes plenty of younger options. Pittsburgh has four quarterbacks on the 53-man roster after cutdowns: Rodgers, Rudolph, third-rounder Drew Allar and 2025 sixth-rounder Will Howard.
That setup helps explain why Rudolph could be available. The Steelers like their young passers, but Rudolph’s experience still gives him the edge behind Rodgers for now.
The 31-year-old is no stranger to Pittsburgh. He was a third-round pick by the Steelers in 2018 out of Oklahoma State, and his contract history with the team has gone through several turns. He was entering the final year of his four-year, $3,921,866 rookie deal and was set to make a base salary of $1.247 million in 2021 when he agreed to a one-year extension with a base value of $5 million.
Rudolph later came back to the Steelers on a one-year deal in 2023, spent 2024 with the Titans on a one-year contract worth up to $3.62 million, and then returned to Pittsburgh again in 2025 on a two-year, $7.5 million deal.
In 2025, Rudolph played in five games for the Steelers and completed 38 of 52 passes, a 73.1 percent clip, for 310 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.
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Joey Porter Jr. Just Got Much More Expensive For Steelers
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For the Steelers, that matters because Joey Porter Jr. is still waiting on his own long-term resolution. Pittsburgh and Porter remain in contract talks, but the clock is part of the pressure here, with the club not interested in dragging negotiations through the regular season and the young corner leaving open the possibility of missing games if he is still without an extension by the opener. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Quarterback Decision Just Sparked A Real Roster Debate
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Pickett also made a point of backing the younger passers in the room, speaking positively about second-year quarterback Will Howard and rookie Drew Allar. In a league where quarterback rooms can turn brittle fast, the Steelers suddenly have a group that looks competitive, experienced, and a little crowded, which is exactly why this storyline will keep lingering as the season unfolds. [Read more 🡒]