In comparing Howard and Alar ask THIS question-

Howard will likely be the odd man out if they go with 3 QBs.

 

There's the entire preseason to be played. Means more than the practices do....

Howard and Mason fighting for a spot (or a reason to keep 4 QB's, which I am a bit against tbh).

 

Mason is 31 years old. We know who he is, as a player, at this juncture of his career. Which is a journeyman QB. He is in the last year of his contract.

Howard is 24 years old. I don't think he has starter ceiling either, but he is likely to fall into a similar range to Mason as a QB by the end of this camp. His contract gives the Steelers 3 years of team control at $1M per.

Football's a business. In order for Mason to win that QB2 role, he is going to need to beat Howard out decisively. Is that possible? Sure. But is it likely? Probably not. Which is why my money's on the order I listed.

I really don't care who wins either. I don't have some horse in this race because I don't think either of them are the future, I don't think the Steelers will do anything significant with either of them serving as starter if Rodgers goes down, and the QB3 is going to need a redshirt year. So why not keep the QB2 option who is 7 years younger and has 3 years of team control at $1M.

 

Mason is fighting for nothing. He knows he has a spot somewhere this season whether with the Steelers or another team.

Three preseason games; roughly 180 snaps ÷ 4 QBs = 45 snaps/QB

 

Reports are that there is a very large gap between Mason and Howard or Allar, advantage Mason. And the gap between Howard and Allar is shrinking, advantage Allar. The case for keeping Mason over the others is that you know what your floor is. The others are unknown and this org is leery about unknowns at the QB position.

Agree that both Howard and Allar end up as different versions of Mason Rudolph, i.e, not your franchise QBs.

 

At 42 and with an injury history, Aaron Rodgers needs a proven, experienced backup who can actually function if called upon. Giving Howard that job is far too big a risk. He’s never taken an NFL snap. The No. 3 role belongs to Allar.Things would be different if Howard were lighting it up in camp. From the video clips and coverage I’ve seen, though, that simply isn’t the case.

Mason does not need to beat Howard decisively to win the role! He only needs to be a little better. Based on what McCarty has hinted, he is a Mason Rudolph fan. Howard has turned the ball over a bit too much in camp.

Both players are cheap on the cap. So it is not a money question. It will be a who is better for the 2026 Steelers decision.

 

I doubt Rodgers will play 45 snaps in the preseason.

 

30-40

Previously posted

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