Steelers Likely Already Have The Wheels In Motion To Make A Move: "It's Not A Good Situation"

The Pittsburgh Steelers shocked some fans in a few different ways during the 2026 NFL Draft. The biggest surprise was probably drafting a quarterback in the third round, and that quarterback being Drew Allar. Allar was viewed as a top QB prospect prior to the 2024 season, but his draft stock fell, especially during his final season at Penn State. He is viewed as a player that has all the raw tools and measurables to be a successful player in the NFL, but he needs to clean up his footwork and accuracy. Those two things typically go hand in hand, and the coaching staff in Pittsburgh is going to get right to work on that.

Allar was also a surprise selection due to how the quarterback room already looks in Pittsburgh. Mason Rudolph is the veteran backup with a good amount of starting experience, while Will Howard is the younger, developmental quarterback. Coaches and executives have spoken extremely highly of Howard, which made many fans believe that a quarterback would not be drafted by the organization. Aaron Rodgers will also be in the picture if he decides to sign a new deal in Pittsburgh to continue his playing career.

Beat writer Mark Kaboly joined 93.7 The Fan on Monday morning, and he was asked about this whole quarterback situation if Rodgers does decide to return, and he mentioned that Rudolph is almost certainly the odd man out.

"Well, he’s the odd man out right now, of course," Kaboly said. "The question is, I would imagine they would let it play out through camp. Just in case. Might as well cover your rear end. Just in case somebody has an injury there. Honestly, if everybody stays healthy throughout camp, you get to early September, you’ve got to move him, right? It’s not a good situation. I know that they’ve been anticipating this, so there’ve been some feelers out there these past couple of weeks about Mason being traded. They were pretty much set on taking a quarterback."

Kaboly has always been one of the bigger Rudolph fans, and his time with the Steelers could be coming to an end if Rodgers does return. The Steelers won't carry four quarterbacks into the regular season. If Rodgers returns, he is the clear starter, and it is hard to believe the organization would consider moving on from Howard. 

Apparently the Steelers have been anticipating this situation for quite some time now. The franchise has been expecting to draft a quarterback, and it has already been calling around the league to gauge interest on Rudolph. It is hard to imagine that the Steelers would be able to get much in return for Rudolph. His experience is valuable, but his play has not always been great. A sixth-round pick might be the ceiling for what the Steelers could get in return for a player like Rudolph.

Keeping Rudolph on the roster through training camp is good in theory. This would allow other quarterback situations around the league to take shape, and some injuries could occur. This could increase various teams' demand for a quarterback with experience, which could improve Rudolph's value. However, it is important that reps for both Howard and Allar are being prioritized over Rudolph.

Steelers May Have A Backup Quarterback Battle

Howard was thought to be Pittsburgh's backup quarterback heading into the 2026 season, assuming Rodgers eventually signs back in Pittsburgh. Now, Howard and Allar will probably be duking it out throughout training camp. This will be an interesting storyline to keep an eye on once the end of July rolls around, as it seems like Rudolph's time with the franchise is likely over with.

What do you think about Kaboly's comments on the quarterback situation? Let me know on X, @brogannoey!

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