Player: QB Mason Rudolph
Stock Value: Up
Reasoning: If Aaron Rodgers “won” Day 1 of the Steelers’ draft, then Mason Rudolph won Day 2. With three rounds in the rearview mirror, he remains at the top of their QB depth chart. While Art Rooney II reiterated that they have positive signs that Rodgers will join them, he hasn’t yet. And with no early-round quarterbacks, Rudolph is poised to be no worse than the backup in 2025. To a 41-year-old quarterback, who, by the way, is mulling retirement.
I may have just talked about Mason Rudolph in this column recently, but life moves fast during the draft. While I didn’t necessarily see it that way, many, many commentators would have sworn the Steelers would have drafted a quarterback by now. With or without assurances from Aaron Rodgers, they simply needed to add one—right?
Well, the Steelers didn’t think, and I think that says a fair bit about Mason Rudolph. Maybe he isn’t their top choice as a starter—and he shouldn’t be—but time and again they have shown that they do believe in him. If they need him to play, they will not hesitate to play him. He has the respect of the locker room and all that fun stuff, too.
As of now, I have no reason to think that Aaron Rodgers isn’t going to sign eventually. If that is correct, Mason Rudolph won’t be starting for the Steelers unless there’s an injury. Or perhaps Rodgers gets too high before a game or something—I don’t know.
But I don’t think there’s any question about his standing on the team. Even Breiden Fehoko voiced his public support for Mason Rudolph as the Steelers passed on quarterbacks. All of this appears organic and genuine, even if former Steelers are less convinced.
So for now, for at least one more day, Mason Rudoph is “stock up” for the Steelers. And even assuming they draft a quarterback in the fourth round—even if that is Shedeur Sanders—I don’t necessarily think that changes much. First of all, drafting a quarterback is an expected variable, and it’s already later than many expected. Second, the Steelers are hesitant to play rookie quarterbacks, especially ones taking third-string reps.
With the new league year underway and the Steelers turning their roster over, it’s once again time to “take stock”. It took a while, but we finally saw some of that change the team talked about after the season ended. Certainly, the move to trade for WR DK Metcalf qualifies as a change, not to mention the accompanying contract.
There is still a long way to go before we know what this Steelers team is going to look like. Once the dust settles on free agency, we turn our attention to the draft, and so on. What other moves might the team make, perhaps unexpected acquisitions or departures? If they traded for one player, they could certainly trade for another, or trade one away. This is a Steelers team starving for postseason success, but how desperate are they for a playoff win in 2025?
