Steelers reportedly leaning toward this Will Howard, Mason Rudolph decision

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback and 2025 rookie Will Howard recently insisted he was trying "to not get too big-picture-minded" amid uncertainty regarding his short-term future. 

The Steelers have Aaron Rodgers atop the depth chart and are expected to keep 2026 third-round pick Drew Allar as a developmental project. Thus, one would think that Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy will eventually deem Howard or veteran Mason Rudolph surplus to requirements.

On Thursday, NFL insider Jason La Canfora of SportsBoom US suggested that Howard has the lead in the competition for Pittsburgh's QB2 job. 

Steelers preparing to trade Mason Rudolph to a QB-needy team?

"At this point," La Canfora wrote, "a trade of Rudolph seems more likely than Howard. Rudolph has displayed a mastery of McCarthy’s system, SportsBoom has been told, but he does not project to be a starter and is beyond the point in his career where he would have a future athletic ceiling to strive for. Rudolph wouldn’t land much in return, but he has proven to be someone who could help a team stabilize the QB position if a starter went down with a short-term injury." 

Steelers coaches have repeatedly praised Howard's development and growth throughout the spring. However, the 2025 sixth-round draft pick still hasn't taken a snap in a regular-season game. Thus, it makes sense that McCarthy and Co. want to see how Howard plays in the preseason before the club thinks about showing Rudolph the door. 

That said, there is at least some hope that Howard and not Allar could become the Steelers' long-term quarterback. Meanwhile, Rudolph is a 30-year-old who is destined to remain a backup capable of making spot starts for a team. 

Could Steelers make bold quarterback move?

"Team sources continue to indicate that new head coach Mike McCarthy is extremely pleased with the development of 2025 draft pick Will Howard, who predated his time there, and there is a strong sense that the team could regret moving him on for limited compensation to make room on the roster for no-upside veterans like Rodgers and primary back-up Mason Rudolph," La Canfora explained. 

Interestingly, La Canfora added that "several people close to the situation said they don’t think it’s entirely out of the question that the Steelers keep all four" quarterbacks. It was previously reported that there was no scenario where the four signal-callers would be on the active roster for Pittsburgh's Week 1 game versus the Atlanta Falcons on Sept. 13.