Howard or Rudolph?

I'm not suggesting this but all things being equal I think Mason's cap savings is not very big so 4 quarterbacks could be in play

Camp and Preseason will sort this out

If it doesn't then it is because no one has stepped up

 

Injuries always happen to QBs in offseason/preseason. Hell... Howard didn't play a snap last year in preseason, much to his detriment.

 

Since the Steelers have no plan to play Drew Allar this season, I think they make up an injury designation for him and put him on IR. They way they will have the same QB room as last season. Rodgers, Rudolph and Howard.

 

Who are you betting starts the Preseason against Green Bay?

I am thinking it is going to be Mason for the 1st QTR to show he still has the backup stuff, and then Howard for the 2nd game, and lastly Drew for the 3rd game. If Mason is playing in the 3rd game he is in trouble.



We are not the Browns, so we are not going to keep 4 QBs on the active roster. (Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel, and Taylen Green.)

 

The part in the middle seems reasonable

 

If Rogers was 32 instead of 42, I'd dump Mason to the UFL in a heartbeat. I just don't think you can go into the season with a 6th round guy, without a NFL snap, as the primary backup. If he beats out Mason, then sure. But I'd still keep Mason around as 3rd string, having experience can still help this room. I'd try to find a way to keep 4 or push Allar to the IR and have him redshirt the season.

 

I hate the Idea of Allar on the IR, because that means he doesn't get to practice with the team or coaches during the regular season. I want Allar to be ready to go to compete for the starting QB job in 2027.

This is the same reason I don't believe in Howard as the backup QB in 2026.

 

Having to rebuild Allar from the ground up really throws a massive wrench in short and long-term plans. Frankly, guy may never be a option.

 

By some method, and more than camp and preseason, they have to be certain of what they have in Howard and Allar before next years draft.

 

I will never understand the Landry Jones Mason comparison.
Hell Mason has played more NFL games than Landry had years in the NFL.
Landry Jones: 8 overall tds, 7ints.
Mason Rudolph: 33 overall tds, 23 ints.
One even scored 2 tds in a playoff game.

 

Let me know if this is wrong.

Did Kenny Picket as a rookie beat out Veteran Mason Ruddolph to be the Steelers backup to Mitch Trubisky in 2022

Mitch started the first 4 games and then Kenny took over in the middle of the week 4 game and became the Steelers starting QB in Week 5 and then for the rest of the season.

So, I ask again in this thread... Why can't Rookie Drew Allar compete for the backup job in 2026?

 

He can and will

Draft pedigree counted more with the marathon man