The Pittsburgh Steelers have a very interesting quarterback situation brewing. Mason Rudolph and Will Howard are fighting for a spot on the 53-man roster, despite being total opposites in terms of experience. The 2017 third-round pick has played in numerous games and knows what is expected of him, while the other one has never even taken a preseason snap. Usually, that would mean the more experienced one would win, but the younger player has been higher on the depth chart throughout the offseason program as he primarily has taken reps at QB2.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers quarterbacks Will Howard (left) and Mason Rudolph (right) during voluntary minicamp on April 21, 2026.
If Rudolph loses the job, his experience and history as a decent backup option could lead to some trade calls. Alex Kay had one particular team in mind that would be very interested in the veteran's services, as he mentioned in a recent article from Bleacher Report.
"To Rudolph's credit, he has been a reliable option when called upon—throwing for 3,395 yards and 21 touchdowns while compiling an 8-5-1 record as Pittsburgh's starter. The Steelers must now decide whether retaining an experienced veteran is worth taking valuable practice reps away from two developmental prospects learning behind [Aaron] Rodgers..." Kay said. "Should that happen, the Denver Broncos would be a logical landing spot. The Broncos need an upgrade to Jarrett Stidham in wake of last year's AFC Championship Game calamity, and Rudolph fits the bill as the ideal QB2 behind Bo Nix."
The Denver Broncos were put in a heart-wrenching situation in the 2025 postseason. After finally winning a playoff game for the first time since Super Bowl L, it was revealed that quarterback Bo Nix suffered a season-ending ankle injury, meaning that they had to go against the New England Patriots with backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham and hope he could do what was needed to compete in the championship.
Ben Swanson / Denver Broncos
Broncos quarterback Jarrett Stidham throws a pass during a Week 18 game against the Las Vegas Raiders in the 2023 regular season.
It was a total disaster. 58 of Stidham's 133 yards came on one drive in the first quarter, and that was the only time the Broncos scored despite the defense doing its job. Once the snowstorm came in the second half, Denver lost the ability to move the ball forward. The final score was 10-7 in a very ugly game. The team's trust in Stidham seemed to have been misplaced, but he is still currently the Broncos' QB2.
That's where Rudolph comes in. Sure, he isn't the most reliable backup out there, but he's not exactly a slouch either. Confidence is key for him. When it's up, he can be a high-quality leader like he was in 2023, when "The Red Zone Reindeer" saved Christmas, as well as the Steelers' season. Denver would seemingly much rather have that kind of quarterback than what they saw from Stidham.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph awaits the snap during Pittsburgh's 2023 Week 17 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks.
Rudolph's one playoff start was not great, but it wasn't as bad as Stidham's. He threw for 229 yards and two touchdowns in a 31-17 game that was delayed by an insane amount of snowfall. While he didn't have to play while it was actively snowing, he didn't seem to be too phased by the bitter cold and the day-long delay. At this point, it wouldn't hurt the Broncos to take a flyer on him.
Steelers Likely Won't Get Much In Return For Rudolph
Odds are that if any team trades for Rudolph, Pittsburgh would only get a sixth- or seventh-round pick back in return. On top of that, whoever acquires him would only be on the hook for $3 million, which is great for a quality QB2 option. Trading him away is not an insult; the focus just needs to be more on developing the young guys than having a veteran backup around in Pittsburgh.
What do you think about the Broncos trading for Rudolph after their struggles in the AFC Championship game? Let us know on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.
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