Steelers Rookie Minicamp Reveals Ugly Quarterback Truth For Aaron Rodgers And Mason Rudolph

The Pittsburgh Steelers entered rookie minicamp hoping to get an early look at their incoming 2026 draft class and begin laying the foundation for the offseason program. While the focus was naturally on player development, the event also served as another reminder that the organization’s quarterback situation remains far from settled heading deeper into the spring. The Steelers drafted Penn State quarterback Drew Allar in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft. He now joins 2025 sixth-round pick Will Howard as one of the team’s two young quarterbacks and potential future options for the franchise.

With uncertainty still surrounding whether Aaron Rodgers will ultimately sign with Pittsburgh, much of the attention continues to center on what the Steelers currently have in the quarterback room. Veteran Mason Rudolph is still with the franchise, but there are tons of questions about whether he can realistically serve as the team’s primary answer if Rodgers never arrives. 

After taking in rookie minicamp, Steelers insider Mark Kaboly came away believing the rookie minicamp reinforced just how important both scenarios may be for Pittsburgh moving forward. In his view, the organization not only still needs Rodgers to stabilize the room, but may also need Rudolph as critical insurance entering the 2026 season.

"It was very telling to me, I am actually writing this right now," Kaboly said while speaking on his show Tuesday. "I think after seeing rookie minicamp, the Pittsburgh Steelers not only need Aaron Rodgers, but they need Mason Rudolph too."

It is no secret that with both Howard and Allar now in the quarterback room, the Steelers clearly need a veteran presence, and for now, Rudolph technically fills that role. Still, many within Steeler Nation do not have much confidence in Rudolph beyond being viewed as a capable backup option. Others believe he has never truly been given a fair opportunity, while some fans even feel Pittsburgh would be just fine if he were named the starter in 2026. 

Rudolph has certainly become one of the bigger debates in Pittsburgh over the years, dating all the way back to when the Steelers selected him in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft. His tenure with the franchise has been filled with ups and downs, flashes of promise, and continued questions about whether he can ever be more than a temporary solution.

Steelers Entering An Entirely New Offensive System

Obviously, Rudolph’s familiarity with the Steelers gives the organization a level of comfort, but with Mike McCarthy now leading the team as head coach, there is also an entirely new offensive system being installed. That means there will be a learning curve across the board, especially for the younger quarterbacks. Kaboly also revealed it is becoming increasingly clear that McCarthy appears to be higher on Allar at this stage than he is on Howard.

McCarthy spoke highly of both Howard and Rudolph before ultimately selecting Allar. He still appears to like what he has in his quarterback room, but after investing a third-round pick in his first draft with Pittsburgh, it is safe to say Allar is now viewed as the favorite in terms of the franchise’s long-term future at quarterback. Howard is not being counted out, but his path to eventually becoming the starter now appears much more difficult. One thing remains clear, though: according to Kaboly, the Steelers still need both Rodgers and Rudolph in 2026.

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