The Steelers may not have to sit around and guess much longer about how to sort out their crowded quarterback room. Mason Rudolph has emerged as the name drawing the most attention, and the latest trade chatter has him linked to the New York Jets.
Jake Asman of ESPN said the Jets could be looking for a veteran quarterback, and Rudolph is among the options being discussed.
“The Jets could be in the market for a veteran QB… Mason Rudolph’s name has come up," Asman said, via 93.7 The Fan's Donny Chedrick.
That lines up with where things stand in Pittsburgh. After the Steelers’ Week 1 preseason game against the Green Bay Packers, Rudolph, Will Howard, and Drew Allar all made strong impressions, while Aaron Rodgers gives the team four quarterbacks on the roster - an unusual setup by any standard. With neither Rodgers nor Rudolph set to play Friday night against the Jets, Howard is positioned to get the start.
Mike McCarthy has made it clear he values Rudolph. On Tuesday, he laid out exactly what he likes about the veteran quarterback:
"Mason has great command of the offense; pure on-the-field game day. He's very experienced; he's strong.
Personality, in the locker room, I really like his command... He's been through a number of systems.
He's been asked to do things differently for how we believe the quarterback position is played. He's done an excellent job."
Even with that praise, the decision to keep Rudolph out against New York could be about more than just rest. It raises the question of whether Pittsburgh is protecting him from injury while trade talks simmer.
There’s logic to the idea of only giving Howard and Allar more preseason reps. Both young quarterbacks could use the work, especially after their debuts against Green Bay.
Still, the bigger roster issue hasn’t changed: keeping four quarterbacks is difficult to justify. Pittsburgh has been facing that problem since Rodgers signed, and a move has always seemed possible. Rudolph and Howard have both been mentioned as possible trade candidates before the season begins.
From the Jets’ perspective, Rudolph would make sense as a veteran fallback. Aaron Glenn is trying to keep his job, and if Geno Smith goes down - or even if his play slips for a stretch - Rudolph would offer an experienced option. That would be a more appealing answer than leaning on rookie fourth-round pick Cade Klubnik.
For the Steelers, a Rudolph deal would also clean up the depth chart. Rodgers would stay in place, Howard and Allar would remain in the mix, and Pittsburgh would add a pick for the 2027 NFL Draft. That could be the cleanest path forward, especially with Rodgers helping in the present while Howard and Allar compete for the future.
The trade idea is no longer just a throwaway thought. Rudolph’s name is out there, the Jets are looking, and Pittsburgh’s quarterback math may soon force a move.
In Other News...
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That is where Pittsburgh could suddenly have something useful to offer in Brock Hoffman. The Steelers backup lineman gives teams the kind of flexibility that matters in a pinch, with experience at both center and guard, and that sort of versatility tends to draw attention when injuries hit this early. If the Chargers decide they need insurance before the situation gets any trickier, this is the kind of phone call that can turn a roster setback into a trade conversation. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Have A Joey Porter Jr. Decision Fans Can't Ignore
Joey Porter Jr. is still at a familiar crossroads for the Steelers, with the young cornerback unsigned to a long-term deal as he works his way through a back issue on the Physically Unable to Perform List. Even with the uncertainty around his status, the organization continues to view him as part of its future, and his situation has become one of the more closely watched contract matters around the team as the offseason winds on.
Interest from other NFL teams has only added to the noise, but a move out of Pittsburgh does not appear to be in the cards this offseason. The real pressure point may come later if the sides still have not reached an agreement, when the Steelers could be forced to decide whether to lean on the franchise tag next offseason to keep one of their top young defenders in place. [Read more 🡒]
Aaron Rodgers Just Raised The Stakes On Pittsburgh's Next QB Decision
Aaron Rodgers gives the Steelers a clear short-term answer at quarterback, but he also sharpens the question hanging over the franchise once this season is over. With Mike McCarthy in place as the new coach, Pittsburgh is planning to use the year to take a close look at Will Howard and Drew Allar, two younger options who could shape the post-Rodgers future if the organization decides to move on.
ESPNs Dan Graziano reported that Rodgers own season could speed up or slow down that timetable. If he plays well, Pittsburgh is expected to ride with him through the year and then sort out the next step afterward, but if his play slips, the Steelers may be pushed to lean on Howard or Allar sooner than expected. Either way, Rodgers has already raised the stakes for how the next quarterback decision gets made. [Read more 🡒]