Mason Rudolph DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph opened OTAs with the first-team offense on Tuesday, according to Brooke Pryor of ESPN. This news isn't much of a surprise, but it does confirm head coach Mike Tomlin's vision as full-team practices get underway this summer. Presumably, the starting quarterback job is Rudolph's to lose, barring an external quarterback addition such as Aaron Rodgers or Kirk Cousins. Rudolph's internal competition comes from Skylar Thompson and rookie Will Howard. Thompson has completed just 58.7 percent of his career passes with one touchdown, three interceptions, and two fumbles. He primarily served as a backup over three seasons in Miami. Meanwhile, Howard is a rookie who impressed at Ohio State, but he has suboptimal draft capital as a sixth-round pick. On the other hand, Rudolph has shown flashes of potential during his time with the Steelers (2018-2023) and Titans (2024). In Tennessee last year, he completed 64 percent of his passes for 1,530 yards, nine touchdowns, and nine interceptions.

NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports that the Pittsburgh Steelers continue to weigh all their options at the quarterback position for the 2025 season, including rolling with Mason Rudolph as their starter under center after bringing him back to the organization this offseason. Rudolph was drafted by the Steelers in the third round in 2018 out of Oklahoma State, is familiar with the organization and has good chemistry with receiver George Pickens. However, the 29-year-old is essentially game manager at the position and wouldn't give the offense as much upside as Aaron Rodgers, a four-time MVP and future Hall of Famer. The Steelers are willing to wait on a decision from Rodgers and have prioritized the 41-year-old over re-signing Russell Wilson. Even if Pittsburgh lands Rodgers, it's not out of the question that they take a rookie signal-caller like Alabama's Jalen Milroe in the upcoming draft.

Free-agent quarterback Mason Rudolph agreed to a two-year, $8 million deal with $4.5 million guaranteed to return to the Pittsburgh Steelers, sources told NFL Network's Mike Garafolo. Rudolph considered multiple offers, including re-signing with the Tennessee Titans, but he ultimately chose to return to Pittsburgh after playing for them from 2019-23. The Steelers took the 29-year-old in the third round (76th overall) in 2018 out of Oklahoma State. Rudolph ended up taking over for the struggling Will Levis in Tennessee last year and went 146-for-228 for 1,530 yards, nine touchdowns and nine interceptions in eight games (five starts). He's pretty much been a game manager in his five years in the NFL, and he'll represent insurance for Pittsburgh with Justin Fields leaving for the Jets and Russell Wilson unsettled on where he'll land. The Steelers likely signed Rudolph with the intention of him being a backup again.