Steelers And Rams Making A Trade During Training Camp Is A Big Possibility

The Pittsburgh Steelers may have a quarterback room that looks crowded for now, but insider Nick Farabaugh believes the ideal outcome could eventually make Mason Rudolph more valuable to another team than he is to Pittsburgh. That would require Will Howard taking a legitimate step forward and Drew Allar continuing to show the Steelers that their long-term quarterback plan is moving in the right direction.

Rudolph gives the Steelers something most teams want behind an older starting quarterback. He has experience, knows the organization, and has already shown he can keep Pittsburgh functional when needed. That type of backup has real value, especially when Aaron Rodgers is still the starter and the team is trying to win immediately.

The question is whether Rudolph’s value changes if the two younger quarterbacks prove they are ready for more responsibility. Farabaugh discussed that possibility during an appearance on 93.7 The Fan, and he made it clear that Pittsburgh’s best-case scenario starts with Howard becoming a quarterback the team can actually trust on game day.

“I think the ideal [situation] is Will Howard takes that leap and becomes a legitimate backup quarterback that you can at least trust, and Drew Allar continues to prove he’s on the right track in this project,” Farabaugh said.

That is the key to the entire conversation. The Steelers cannot seriously consider moving Rudolph unless Howard earns that trust first. There is a major difference between liking a young quarterback’s tools and being willing to let him enter a regular-season game if Rodgers gets hurt. Howard has to prove he can operate the offense, protect the football, handle pressure, and avoid making the kind of mistakes that turn a short-term absence into a lost season.

Allar’s development matters too, but in a different way. He does not need to be ready to become the backup immediately. He needs to show the Steelers that his projectable traits are real and that the organization can afford to keep investing reps in him. If Howard becomes the reliable No. 2 and Allar looks like a quarterback worth developing, Rudolph’s spot becomes less secure.

That is not a knock on Rudolph. It is the reality of roster construction. Veteran backup quarterbacks are useful, but teams do not usually want to carry more quarterback insurance than they need. If Pittsburgh believes Howard and Allar can handle the developmental side of the room, Rudolph could become a trade piece instead of a necessity.

The idea becomes even more interesting because other teams around the league may need a proven backup before or during the season. Farabaugh pointed to the Los Angeles Rams as one possible fit, especially after they drafted Ty Simpson and may not want to rush him into a bigger role.

“I think there’s someone out there that could use Mason Rudolph that would trade for him,” Farabaugh said. “I brought up in the past the Rams. I don’t know if they want Ty Simpson to play right away. Do they want him to be the third quarterback and marinate? There’s a want there it seems like, even after drafting Ty Simpson.”

That is where Rudolph’s experience becomes important. He is not being discussed like a franchise-changing quarterback. He is being discussed like a useful veteran who can give another team a steadier option than an unready rookie. For clubs with playoff expectations or older starters, that kind of quarterback can be worth a late-round pick or a depth-piece swap.

The Steelers also have to think carefully about timing. Trading Rudolph too early would be dangerous if Howard struggles in camp or Allar looks overwhelmed. Pittsburgh has too much riding on the 2026 season to get cute with quarterback depth. Rodgers is not a young starter, and the offense cannot afford to have no dependable option behind him.

At the same time, keeping Rudolph only makes sense if the Steelers believe he is still clearly ahead of Howard. Pittsburgh has already seen enough debate around Howard’s place in the room, including questions about why he was not seen at Rodgers’ offseason team bonding event. If Howard answers those questions on the field, the conversation changes fast.

That is what makes training camp so important. Howard does not need to win a starting job. He needs to win trust. Allar does not need to look complete. He needs to look like a real investment. Rudolph does not need to do anything wrong to become expendable. He just needs the younger quarterbacks to make the Steelers comfortable enough to listen.

Steelers Could Turn Quarterback Depth Into Value

The Steelers’ quarterback room is built around one obvious short-term reality. Rodgers is the starter, and everything else is about what happens behind him and after him. Rudolph gives Pittsburgh stability. Howard gives Pittsburgh a chance at a younger backup. Allar gives Pittsburgh the long-term project.

If all three things are true at once, something has to give.

Farabaugh’s scenario is not guaranteed, but it is realistic. A strong Howard camp, steady Allar progress, and outside quarterback needs could turn Rudolph into one of Pittsburgh’s more interesting trade chips. The Steelers would not be selling a star. They would be selling stability, and that still has value in the NFL.

The safest path is keeping Rudolph. The more aggressive path is trusting the young quarterbacks and using Rudolph to improve the roster somewhere else. Pittsburgh does not have to make that decision now, but Farabaugh’s point shows how quickly the room could shift.

Rudolph is valuable because he is dependable. If Howard becomes dependable too, the Steelers may have a decision that is much harder than expected.

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