Player: QB Mason Rudolph
Stock Value: Down
Reasoning: Any realistic chance Mason Rudolph had of being the Steelers’ starter this season evaporated when Aaron Rodgers signed his contract. Rodgers didn’t sign here to compete for a starting job, so that sends Rudolph to the bench. He knew that going in, and likely always assumed Rodgers would sign. But now that it’s official, so is his backup status.
Off the playing surface, one could argue that Mason Rudolph has never put a foot wrong in his professional career. “Professional” has long been a key word to define his conduct, and that certainly applies to his most recent interviews.
To his credit, Rudolph has handled the Aaron Rodgers saga very well, right down to Rodgers actually signing. At every turn, he has treated the situation exactly as you would hope of any professional, with class yet confidence. At no point has he ever ceded ground, nor stepped on toes, understanding what he can and cannot control.
Mason Rudolph will be the backup to Aaron Rodgers this season, barring the unlikely, even if the unlikely is more likely when Rodgers is involved. And he should handle that role with aplomb, as he has in the past.
Importantly, he seems to have the support of the entire locker room, which would have embraced him as the Steelers’ starter if that is how things had turned out. Mason Rudolph is the quarterback the Steelers know, after all, given his history, even considering the turnover.
Even while mentally juggling the possibilities between being a starter and being a backup, Rudolph has also made himself available to Will Howard and Skylar Thompson, the Steelers’ younger quarterbacks. But this isn’t just about his demeanor. On the field, he has also drawn strong positive reviews for his performance during OTAs.
Beginning with minicamp, though, he will not be taking starter reps. Mason Rudolph will cede those to Aaron Rodgers, and perhaps even help get him up to speed. Of course Rudolph wants to start, but he will acquit himself well as a leader in the locker room regardless.
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. The dust is settled on both free agency and the 2025 NFL Draft. 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?
