The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted quarterback Mason Rudolph in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft. It seemed as if the hope was to quietly prepare for life after Ben Roethlisberger. At the time, Roethlisberger wasn’t getting any younger, and the idea of him retiring at any point didn’t seem too far off. The decision to draft Rudolph, though, seemed to upset Roethlisberger. Not because he didn’t want a reliable backup or the organization to be set up for life after him, but because he felt like using a third-round pick for a team in win-now, Super Bowl-contending mode wasn’t very wise.
Peter Diana / Post-Gazette
Former Pittsburgh Steelers' QB Ben Roethlisberger looks on while quarterback Mason Rudolph throws the football during practice.
Rudolph has turned into a semi-reliable backup, depending on who you talk to. Some Steelers fans swear he’s never gotten a fair shake, while others claim he’s gotten too many chances. What is known is that Rudolph has had some glimpses in the Steel City, but he’s never been able to fully instill confidence in the coaching staff to ever seriously trust him. Rudolph left in free agency for the 2024 season and had a rough stint with the Tennessee Titans, where he struggled mightily.
He came back to serve as a backup for the Steelers in 2025, but with Mike McCarthy getting hired, Aaron Rodgers electing to return for one more season, and McCarthy drafting quarterback Drew Allar in the third round, plus a young and exciting 2025 sixth-round pick in Will Howard, many believe Rudolph will be the odd man out and that Steelers GM Omar Khan should trade him. Steelers insider Mark Kaboly explained what he believes would actually be more likely to happen should the Steelers move forward with just Rodgers, Howard, and Allar for 2026 via 93.7 The Fan.
"I don't think they would trade him," Kaboly said. "I don't think they will get much for him, maybe a sixth- or seventh-rounder, maybe."
Kaboly isn’t even certain Khan could get back a sixth- or seventh-round pick for Rudolph. His trade value appears to be considered very minimal, as many across the league view him as a fringe backup.
Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers QB Mason Rudolph throws the ball during a 2025 practice.
An injury to a quarterback room at some point could help increase his value, but even that is uncertain.
"At that point, they will just let him [go]," Kaboly said. "They won't even ask him to come on the practice squad or nothing like that. You just cut bait and say, 'Thanks Mason, we respect you enough to go try and find another job' if that happens."
However, Kaboly doesn’t think they would even want to move him purely out of respect for Rudolph. A move that, while kind, in the ever-business-driven model of the NFL would likely be seen by fans as silly, since the team could at least try to extract some form of value for him.
Steelers Should Try And Find Value
There is no real nobility in doing right by a backup quarterback when you could add draft capital, even if it is late-round capital. His market may not be anything at all, but still, Steelers fans would likely appreciate the effort to get something in return, as it could help set up the future.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (X: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers General Manager Omar Khan during a training camp practice in Latrobe, PA.
In the end, the decision comes down to whether the Steelers prioritize doing right by a player or squeezing out whatever remaining value they can from a fading market.
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