The Pittsburgh Steelers are one of the many teams in the NFL who don't really seem to have any direction at the quarterback position. The franchise has struggled in this regard ever since Ben Roethlisberger retired following the 2021 season, and the organization has been chasing down veteran quarterbacks to put a Band-Aid on the problem for years. Aaron Rodgers started and played well for Pittsburgh in 2025, and there seems to be a pretty good chance that he might return in 2026, although he is considering retiring. The 2026 NFL Draft is also a spot the Steelers could choose to address the position, but it is hard to tell what the organization might be thinking.
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Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) during 2025 training camp in Latrobe, PA.
The Steelers hold the 21st overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, so the franchise isn't really in a spot to draft a potential franchise quarterback. Ty Simpson out of Alabama is a name that could be a possibility there, but that would likely be a reach. The Steelers are in a tough spot, and insider Ray Fittipaldo was on 93.7 The Fan on Wednesday where he was asked about the franchise potentially drafting a quarterback. He doesn't believe the Steelers would draft a quarterback high, but he could see the organization drafting someone late in the event.
"I just think, if Rodgers comes back, he's the guy," Fittipaldo said. "They've told us Will Howard is the next guy, you probably just need a developmental guy to get in behind them. I don't want to say you'd be wasting a pick if you drafted one Round 1, but I think it will be later than that."
Rodgers being the starter if he comes back is not a surprise, but the fact that Fittipaldo did not mention Mason Rudolph is a bit surprising. Rudolph and Will Howard are the only two quarterbacks currently under contract for the 2026 season, and his comments make it seem as though Rudolph will be out of the picture by the time the 2026 season rolls around.
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Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph looks at his call sheet during Pittsburgh's 31-28 loss against the Chicago Bears in Week 12 of the 2025 NFL regular season.
Rudolph has been in the league for seven years now, and he has been with Pittsburgh for each of those seasons aside from 2024 when he was with the Tennessee Titans. He had a good amount of opportunities with the Titans, but he did not play well during his time there. He has shown throughout his career that he is nothing more than a good option as a backup quarterback, and the Steelers might be done with the veteran signal-caller.
Howard is a player that the organization seems to have a ton of belief in, and new head coach Mike McCarthy has spoken very highly of the young QB. It seems like if Rodgers were to come back for the 2026 season, Howard would be the backup, and if a quarterback is selected late in the 2026 NFL Draft, the franchise could move on from Rudolph.
Steelers Have A Few Options When It Comes To Parting Ways With Mason Rudolph
Rudolph struck a new deal back with the Steelers during the 2025 offseason when he signed a two-year deal worth $7.5 million. He will be a free agent after the 2026 season, but Pittsburgh will likely try to move on from him before then. He has a good amount of starting experience, and he has even started a playoff game. That is valuable to some franchises which could make Rudolph a trade candidate. Pittsburgh likely wouldn't get much in a deal, but it would be better than nothing.
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Mason Rudolph playing against the Buffalo Bills in the 2023 NFL Playoffs.
If the organization cannot find a way to trade Rudolph, releasing the quarterback wouldn't be a hard decision. His cap hit in 2026 would be just over $4.62 million, but only $1.62 of that is guaranteed. The franchise would save roughly $3 million by moving on from the veteran backup, which might be the best move.
What do you think the Steelers will do with Rudolph moving forward? Let us know in the comments below!
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