Who will be the Steelers starting QB in the 2026 season opener?

That is where my thinking is as well. Mason is a good backup, but he is doing nothing to move us into the future. In fact, by sucking up the #2 spot, he might be holding us back.

I think we are getting a vet who will start as #1. The list of who that could be is big. There are a lot of people beyond the list in this thread's poll that are on it. Just throwing out some other names that I don't think are impossible to become available. Flacco, Tua, Baker Mayfield, Geno Smith, Jalen Hurts, Joe Burrow, Kyler Murray, and JJ McCarthy. A combination of bad performance, unhappy fans, unhappy QBs, and money could lead to some names getting horse traded that might not be on the radar right now IMO.

Barring a big deal in training camp, our starter will be Rodgers if he returns. If not, it will be Willis or someone from the group I listed I bet. That starter will be a bridge for Howard unless they are doing unexpectedly well and keep the starting job for the entire season. Unless it is Rodgers, he would probably hold the starting job for the entire season unless it is really really bad. Howard will move to the #2 spot where he can get a chance to show what he has. They will release Rudolph and eat 1.6 million in dead cap. Draft some other QB in a later round and he will be the #3 who doesn't dress. With a good season or at least one that shows that Howard has something, we will draft for the team next year. If 2026 is a bust, we draft a QB from the front of the list in 2027.