Report: No 'robust' trade market for Steelers QB Mason Rudolph

It's understood in the final hours of June that the Pittsburgh Steelers would name free-agent signing Mitchell Trubisky their starting quarterback for Week 1 if they had to make that call today. Additionally, career backup Mason Rudolph would probably be second on the depth chart for such a figurative game, which would leave first-round draft selection and Pittsburgh Panthers product Kenny Pickett an inactive observer.

Much can, and possibly will, change between July 1 and September. 

Earlier this month, Steelers insider Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and ESPN's Brooke Pryor both explained the franchise could look to trade Rudolph. That move would automatically make Pickett the primary backup for Trubisky, and it would also open a roster spot for signal-caller and seventh-round pick Chris Oladokun. 

As Alex Kozora noted for Steelers Depot, though, NFL insider Jason La Canfora said during a Thursday appearance on Pittsburgh's 93.7 The Fan that supporters shouldn't hold their breaths waiting for teams to call the Steelers about Rudolph. 

"I don't think it's robust," La Canfora remarked about any supposed trade market for the 26-year-old. "Obviously, injuries are a factor in this game, and, like, he's started some games in the NFL."

La Canfora added that a team that loses a quarterback during the summer could potentially send a fifth-round draft pick Pittsburgh's way for Rudolph. 

"But I don't think there's a whole lot of interested parties right now," La Canfora continued. 

Assuming Pittsburgh isn't in any rush to move Pickett up the depth chart, holding onto Rudolph until close to the trade deadline wouldn't be a terrible decision, especially if Trubisky plays well enough to keep the rookie sidelined through the fall.