Scenarios where Rudolph could bring a trade

I see three possible scenarios where Rudolph's trade value could rise due to an injury and I am of the mindset that it would be foolish to lose Howard or Allar without seeing a body of work.

1. A competitive team who has a stud starter and not much behind him.
Colts
Jaguars
Bengals (albeit same division)
Broncos
Cowboys
Eagles
Bears

2. A team who has two similar guys at 1 and 2 and loses one of them.
Dolphins
Panthers (could win the division again with losing record)

3. A team with a real good back up who wants to stay in the hunt if that back up is now the starter.
49ers (I think Mac Jones may is one of the best back ups in the league)

 

I agree but I would be ready to pull the trigger if the right scenario pops up. Either of the young guys going to the PS will be snatched up in a heartbeat and I think that could end up being a horrendous mistake. The odds of bringing AR back being the right move are very slim when you look at the Steelers future, otherwise it will show terrible management of the team overall. I don't think it's ever a good idea to put all you eggs in one basket, especially a very old, limited, basket.

 

Not.going.to.happen.

 

Don't.be.so.sure

 

Again for some reason people think that Howard is the only Qb drafted that year.
24 Qb have been drafted during that time, 13 ahead of the 6th round. Many teams have 3, or 4 Qbs on their teams as we speak, and yet many on here believe that a 6th round pick with no experience if put on our practice squad is on every single teams wish list. LoL

 

Agree with @Steel_Elvis.


Unless Howard transforms into the second coming of Johnny Unitas in the Preseason Finale; Rudolph is locked in as the number two QB. Howard needs to worry less about that and much more on his Pocket Prescence for the final game. His last performance was all over the place.


I am not saying it is 100% all on him. That said, drifting back into the pocket seldom ever works. Need to step into it while continually making progressions.

 

Remember, the Steelers cut Johnny Unitas!

 

I will be 100% shocked if Drew Aller does not get the start in the 3rd preseason game. We need to know what Aller can do when he is NOT working with WRs who will be asking people "if they Want Fries with that", in September.

 

Allar will take the QB3 reps all season unless Rodgers or Rudolph goes down. There is no room for a 4th QB on the roster. Howard will be cut and perhaps added to the practice squad.

 

Sounds about right

 

I am fully aware.


All the more reason I consider that a greater mistake in Steelers History than the team not drafting Dan Marino. This isn't to say Marino would have been a bad pick (quite the opposite) but Unitas was drafted and was never given a fair shot.


That is objectively more damning than overlooking a player.

 

And why have they not named the starter for tonight

Brice I smell a conspiracy here

 

LOL... I think McCarthy is secretely trying to convince Aaron Rodgers to take the 1st series with the Entire Starting Steelers Offense.


McCarthy has already gone on record that he wanted Rodgers to play in a preseason game, and then Rodgers completely shut him down a few days later.

 

Not to mention Len Dawson (not cut but traded to the stains), although they has Bobby Layne in the wings.

 

This thought crossed my mind

 

Wanted to say thanks for listing some teams for each of the scenarios.
That adds to the discussion, by giving examples that can be scrutinized, rather than pure hypotheticals that might be completely unreasonable.

(I think they keep Mason, as they probably won't get an offer good enough that it can't be turned down, but at least this post narrows it down to only a handful of teams to watch over the next week.)

 

What are you hoping for in return for the trade? I dont think the Steelers hold the cards on any trade involving Mason so unless its a sellers market when one of those teams seem desperate then what is the upside vs downside? Where does the tipping point move so that you consider trading your known backup for putting yourself into depending on a 2nd year player and a rookie?

 

That’s coach-speak from McCarthy. All he’s saying is that it’s possible they keep four. He did not use the words “probably” or “likely” about keeping four QBs.We have not kept four quarterbacks since 1995.Believe what you want. Keeping four QBs might hinder developing your No. 3 a tad. There is a 53-man team. Keeping four quarterbacks means you keep one less player at another position.

 

I’m not so sure Rudolph has value to be traded without an injury to another team’s primary back up. He’d get signed if released… but I would say swapping Mason and our 7th for a 6th is probably what we’re looking at.

 

They have a long and distinguished history of screwing up on quarterbacks!

They hit homeruns on two of them, but the rest has been almost exclusively dog excrement.

 

We'll see by this coming Monday right?

 

Sunday, August 30, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. ET.