The Pittsburgh Steelers are set to rely on Aaron Rodgers as their starting quarterback for the 2026 season. Rookies Drew Allar and Will Howard are expected to serve as backups, leaving Mason Rudolph as the odd man out. This situation has sparked trade rumors, with the New York Jets emerging as a potential destination.
Jets Consider Mason Rudolph as Backup
Omari Brown of Jets X-Factor suggested on “The Jake Asman Show” that the New York Jets should add another quarterback to their roster. He proposed targeting Mason Rudolph as a middle-ground option between rookie Cade Klubnik (age 22) and veteran Geno Smith (age 35). Brown emphasized that Rudolph, at 30 years old, has starting experience and could step in if Smith gets injured. He painted a scenario where the Jets are 3-4 or 3-5 and Smith goes down, making Rudolph a reliable choice over an unprepared Klubnik.
Trade Rumors and Market
Mason Rudolph is currently under contract with the Steelers for one more year, carrying a $4.6 million cap hit. Analysts have linked him to the New York Jets, Denver Broncos, Arizona Cardinals, and Miami Dolphins. Alex Kozora of Steelers Depot noted that Rudolph is considered the odd man out in Pittsburgh, especially after the team drafted Drew Allar. The potential return for Rudolph is one or two late-round draft picks.
Rudolph's Performance and Contract
In the 2025 season, Rudolph completed 38 of 52 passes for 310 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions, posting an 84.6 passer rating over five games. His contract, signed in March 2025, is a two-year, $7.5 million deal with a $3 million signing bonus and $3 million guaranteed. He is set to earn a $3 million base salary in 2026.
Jets' Current QB Situation
The Jets' current quarterbacks include Geno Smith, Cade Klubnik, Bailey Zappe, and Brady Cook. ESPN’s Rich Cimini reported that Zappe has been unimpressive this spring, while The Athletic’s Zach Rosenblatt noted that Cook has struggled, completing 88 of 153 passes for 739 yards, two touchdowns, and seven interceptions in 2025. These struggles have fueled speculation that the Jets could target Rudolph as a more stable backup option.
Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Ray Fittipaldo stated that Will Howard has a “leg up” on the competition for the QB2 role behind Aaron Rodgers, further diminishing Rudolph’s chances of staying in Pittsburgh. Whether a trade materializes remains to be seen.
