Russell Wilson‘s imminent Pittsburgh arrival was expected to end the Steelers’ partnership with Mason Rudolph. Indeed, after six years with the AFC North team, Rudolph will move on.
The Titans are giving the longtime Steelers backup a one-year, $3.62M deal, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo relays. With Ryan Tannehill‘s four-year contract off Tennessee’s books, the team will go about a new backup for Will Levis. Pittsburgh had been in talks on a new Rudolph deal, but the sides will move on.
Ex-AFC North staffers are now leading the Titans’ offense and defense – Brian Callahan, Dennard Wilson – which will provide some advanced scouting work. While Wilson was only with the Ravens for one season, Callahan spent five as Bengals OC. Rudolph joined Lamar Jackson as the division’s longest-tenured quarterback, but the Steelers are going with Wilson as a rather high-profile competitor against Kenny Pickett. Despite Rudolph’s presence as the team’s playoff starter, he is headed to Nashville.
Tennessee’s decision to draft Levis last spring seemed to spell the end of Tannehill’s tenure atop the depth chart. Indeed, Levis took over midway through the 2023 season and is positioned to hold the No. 1 role moving forward. The Titans’ only other passer under contract was former third-rounder Malik Willis, drafted as a developmental option in 2022. The latter’s ceiling is unknown, but Rudolph will provide a high floor as Levis insurance.
Remaining in place as Pittsburgh’s starter even after Pickett returned to health late in the year, Rudolph posted at least 229 passing yards three times between the close of the regular season and the team’s wild-card loss to the Bills. He produced a 5:1 touchdown-to-interception ratio during that four-game span, and a repeat of that efficiency would be welcomed if he were to be called into action in 2024. Seeing game time with Tennessee would help the Oklahoma State product’s free-agent value ahead of next offseason.
Rudolph has already played on multiple one-year pacts and that will continue this campaign. Another backup gig awaits him despite taking an opportunity outside of Pittsburgh for the first time in his career. Still, Rudolph could find himself playing a role in a Titans offense which will look very different compared to last year’s unit.
Adam La Rose contributed to this post.
More must-reads: