.jpg)
1 hour ago
3
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ decision to sign Aaron Rodgers to a one -year deal on May. 18 doesn’t make the organization’s quarterback situation any less intriguing.
Pittsburgh has two developmental signal-callers, Drew Allar and Will Howard, and one veteran QB, Mason Rudolph, prepared to take over if Rodgers is ever forced to sit out a few games.
That said, with Mason Rudolph appearing in trade rumors recently, he’ll likely wind up as the odd man out before the start of the 2026-27 season. CBS Sports’ Leger Douzable floated the New York Jets as a possible trade destination for the Oklahoma State product.
“I wonder if Pittsburgh would be willing to trade Mason Rudolph,” Douzable wrote on X/Twitter Tuesday. “If so, that could be a name the Jets look at for their backup QB?”
Geno Smith, whom the Jets acquired from the Las Vegas Raiders in an early March trade, is the best QB option on New York’s roster, making it safe to assume he’ll lead the franchise’s offense to start the 2026-27 season.
However, moving down the Jets’ depth chart will make it easy to see why Rudolph should be on their radar. Cade Klubnik has never appeared in an NFL game, Bailey Zappe finished the 2023-24 season with six touchdowns and nine interceptions in 10 games as the New England Patriots’ temporary starter, and Brady Cook's 2025-26 campaign with the New York was one to forget, to put it mildly (he threw for 739 yards, two touchdowns, and seven interceptions in five games).
From an experience and performance standpoint, Rudolph would unquestionably edge out Klubnik, Zappe, and Cook. The 30-year-old had thrown for 4,925 yards, 30 touchdowns, and 22 interceptions in 34 career games (he was the Steelers’ starting QB during their 2023 AFC Wild Card clash vs. the Buffalo Bills).
Targeting Rudolph on the trade market checks out for a New York organization with a relatively weak QB room.
More NFL:
English (US)